Two cities ought to make a deal

Jay gees.

That’s how we all referred to the junior lifeguard program way back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s when I was a JG.

I think maybe the only time I ever heard it called junior lifeguards was when I went for my swim test in what must have been the spring of 1978. I was 8.

That age might be catching a few readers’ eyes, and it should. Age 8 isn’t quite old enough to start JGs.

So here’s a confession: My mom and I lied about my age to get me into the program. I didn’t make the cutoff of being 9 when the program started, so we moved my birthday up two months.

Why? Simple: Every one of my friends was going to be in JGs, and I didn’t want to spend a summer alone. (I’ve since realized there was another reason: My mom probably didn’t want to spend a summer with me moping about while all my friends were, literally, two blocks away on the beach.)

Back in the late ‘70s in Manhattan Beach, if you spent any amount of time during the summer on the beach, you ended up in JGs. No argument, no debate. It isn’t even worth discussing. That’s what every beach kid did.

I wasn’t going to miss out on that.

And I didn’t. For the next six years, I spent mornings on the beach -- fog or sun, warm or cold -- as did all my friends.

It wasn’t cool to be in the afternoon program that eventually got started -- I’m not sure which year that happened. I do remember it being all kids from out of town or, just as bad, east of Sepulveda -- what Coast Highway is called going through Manhattan, to give you a sense of the geography.

Does this sound familiar?

All the debate in the past few weeks about Newport’s JG program has taken me back to some of the happiest times of my life -- and some of the most terrifying. There really isn’t anything much worse than playing nation ball -- a form of dodge ball, for those not in the know (what, do you live east of Coast Highway?) -- and being the target of the kids two years older than you.

But that’s what happens to you when you have a friend with an older brother. And that older brother has friends.

Isn’t childhood grand?

It was for all of us lucky JGs. There were field trips to surf spots like Point Zero, abalone hunts on Catalina, the nation ball games and capture the flag competitions.

There was more.

There were calisthenics. Run-swim-runs. Swims out and around buoys. Just runs down to 1st Street and back. (Trust me, a long way when you’re little.)

There was more.

There was water safety. We learned about the ocean. And to this day, even though I’ve bodysurfed only a handful of times since the beginning of summer, I’m confident I could handle myself in any ocean condition, including the Wedge -- except maybe on its biggest days.

I’m confident, mind you, but not cocky. I also know my limits and I know the power of the ocean and that it should never be taken lightly.

I know all this more than 20 years after I finished JGs. Even more importantly, by the time I was 13, my parents were comfortable enough to let me go to the beach without a parent being there. That was because of JGs.

So, I’m not at all surprised that there is an overflow crowd wanting to get into Newport’s program. I’m living proof of how great a JG program is.

I also know that four weeks of JGs, as is being discussed by Newport city leaders, won’t be enough. There might have been times when the program seemed long, especially the last week when it went all day as the two groups -- morning and afternoon -- combined. But we learned and laughed every second of those eight weeks. And there’s a ton to learn.

What’s the solution, then?

I certainly understand wanting to keep the program Newport-only. I understand it both from a locals-only perspective -- we wanted to be with just our friends all summer -- and from a more adult, taxpaying viewpoint. It’s Newport money paying for the lifeguards, after all.

But clearly, Costa Mesa kids are an equal part of the fabric of this community. They probably should have equal priority to the program. But for them to have the luxury, there also probably needs to be a way to balance out the extra cost. Perhaps Costa Mesa parks and recreation money goes to JG at an agreed-to level. Maybe the amount nonresidents are charged needs to rise to accommodate more instructors. At about $600, it’s still a bargain given what the kids get.

And it’s an even bigger bargain for parents. Come on: $600 not to have a mopey kid hanging around home all summer? Certainly some deal can be reached.

Maybe a game of nation ball to settle everything?

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He may be reached at (714) 966-4607 or by e-mail at [email protected].

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