Living With the Enemy, El Nino

“I saw the duck lady,” my wife said when she returned from grocery shopping Sunday.

My eyes widened. She meant A.C., the elderly homeless woman I had written about 18 months ago. I’d been searching for A.C. for quite some time, worried how she was doing with all the El Nino-related rains. A reader had called me a few months back to say that she knew A.C. from serving her in a church food line, and that A.C. was in poor health.

For close to 10 years, A.C. had lived with her bicycle full of belongings just outside the neighborhood grocery store where we shopped in Garden Grove. But last year she moved on, after the store removed its outside benches.

My wife referred to her as “the duck lady” because when I had interviewed A.C., she told me she was worried about the ducks at the Garden Grove Library grounds. The city had removed them during renovation of its ponds. I’d assured her that the ducks had been relocated safely. (They’re now back at the newly cleaned ponds.)

A.C. liked to read the newspaper, and said at the time she was also worried about the Angels leaving Anaheim. She would not tell me more about herself--even what “A.C.” stood for--and was suspicious of my questions.

My wife said the woman no longer had her bicycle. Later Sunday afternoon, I went searching for A.C. but didn’t find her. I did come across Barbara, a younger street woman, watching the ducks at the library ponds. I asked if she knew A.C.

“Oh sure,” she said.

Had she seen her? “Sure, she’s been around. I usually see her in the food line across the street on Fridays. There’s another on Tuesday’s over on Main. I see her there sometimes.”

I asked Barbara if she knew where A.C. sleeps during the heavy rains.

“Anywhere she can.”

Monday I took another trip by the grocery. And there she was, clutching her worn pink and blue handbag, drinking a cup of coffee and munching on a doughnut. A.C. now carries a cane; an injured foot was noticeable.

I was nervous about approaching her. Our last meeting had ended badly. I had asked so many questions, A.C. was convinced I was with the bankers. Somewhere in her past she had no doubt had a bad experience with a bank.

But she smiled when I approached. She had remembered our conversation.

“You’re that fellow with his picture in the paper, aren’t you? I didn’t know you wore glasses.”

I could see her gray hair was freshly washed and nicely braided. I told her I’d been worried about her living on the streets in all the rain. And I’d heard that she hadn’t been well.

“Oh, I’ve made out OK. Someone’s exaggerating about my illness. I can’t walk much, but that’s the only thing wrong.”

I tried to pry about her new living quarters. I knew she wasn’t sleeping in her old spot next to the water dispenser outside the grocery.

“No, but I try to get back here at least once each day,” she said. “I like it here.”

For the 18 months since I’d last seen her, somehow she had found a way to survive. But I left wondering just how many more years before the streets finally take their toll on A.C.

*

Life With Elaine: It’s always nice to see a struggling actor make it, especially someone from Orange County.

You haven’t heard of Patrick Warburton? Well, if you’re a dedicated “Seinfeld” fan, you know David Puddy. He’s the large but rather geeky new boyfriend of Elaine; Warburton portrays him.

Warburton, 33, grew up in Huntington Beach. He was studying marine biology at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa in the 1980s when his mother introduced him to a modeling agent. Warburton dropped out of college to model and do some TV ads. He’s had a few minor TV roles, including a recurring one on the old “Dave’s World.” But “Seinfeld,” where he first appeared in 1995, has been his big boost.

People magazine said in a profile of him this week: “Not since Jerry’s nemesis Newman or the infamous Soup Nazi has a minor player struck such a resonant chord with ‘Seinfeld’ fans.”

By the way, have you caught that American Express commercial with Jerry Seinfeld and an animated Superman? Warburton does the Superman voice.

*

Getting Tired: You’ll find new rubberized playground surfaces at Jardin de los Ninos Park and Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove. It all comes from 4,000 recycled tires.

Officials with the state’s Integrated Waste Management Board say that about 60% of our old tires are now being diverted from landfills for public use. But that’s not enough, they say.

The city of Garden Grove has been distributing a brochure called “Don’t Let Your Tires Get Tired,” with tips on how to extend the life of tires. You can also pick up a brochure at Garden Grove City Hall or the city library.

Wrap-Up: The last time I wrote about A.C., a couple of groups that work with the homeless tried to find her to offer her some assistance. But somehow she eluded them. Lawyers have told me that she’s probably entitled to a great number of benefits that she knows nothing about.

If you happen to come across a woman with a cane carrying a huge pink and blue handbag, somewhere near Euclid and Chapman avenues in Garden Grove, she might need a helping hand. As long as you’re not a banker.

Jerry Hicks’ column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Readers may reach Hicks by call-ing the Times Orange County Edition at (714) 966-7823 or by fax to (714) 966-7711, or e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com