Where did the summer go?

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

The summer is about over, and I’ve missed it. I heard it was a great

one here in Huntington Beach, though.

It seems like just yesterday that we prepared our Summer Along the

Coast section, which had me so excited for all I would do this

season.

I planned to attend the famous Fourth of July parade, which was as

successful as always (although I did learn from the police this year

that the 300,000 spectators number is bogus.) The largest parade west

of the Mississippi (boy, I hope that’s true) boasted celebrities such

as actor Mickey Rooney, Nickelodeon star Lisa Foiles and Animal

Planet host Matt Gallant, and athletes such as three-time Olympian

and 10-time record holder Dwight Stones and the SCATS gymnastics

team, whose members did aerials on the hot asphalt and 20-second

handstands and swung like chimpanzees from a bar on their float.

I injured my knee and couldn’t make the hike Downtown, but I heard

it was great. Sadly, I enjoyed fireworks out of town.

Just weeks later the Philips Fusion came to town with the U.S.

Open of Surfing, the Soul Bowl and all the music, entertainment and

excitement a person could stand.

It drew record numbers to Surf City’s beaches. Even I made it down

to this event! In fact, I had a sweet spot on the pier just above the

action as first Kekoa Bacalso of Hawaii took the win in the Lost Pro

Juniors final and then as Cory Lopez schooled several other great

surfers like Andy Irons, whom I was directly above when he pulled off

a sick drop.

No sooner had the Philips Fusion left town when surfing made its

debut in the ESPN X Games right here in Huntington Beach. I,

naturally, had a previous engagement, but I heard it was amazing -- a

first-rate event all the way and a milestone in surf competitions

with its team format.

Without a breather in sight for sports fans, the AVP Nissan Series

Huntington Beach Open hit town the week after the X Games. When I

trudged Downtown sick as a dog, I just missed the finals but saw the

evidence of an amazing time, and a rancorous crowd of bikini- and

board-short-clad fans with yellow thunder sticks flooded by me.

A reportedly intense women’s final saw the No. 1 seeded duo of

Kerri Walsh and Misty May take the win. Volleyball legend Karch

Kiraly teamed with Brent Doble to claim the men’s crown.

The summer passed in a whirlwind of huge events Downtown that I

experienced mostly through stories I edited. But with record crowds

at most of them, it seems I was the only one missing out.

I hope I am the only one wondering where the summer went.

So, as the days again get shorter, traffic congestion begins to

ease and back to school press releases flood the office, I now gear

up for a vacation led by my friend Cap’n Lang. Enjoy the weather

while it lasts and watch out for dorsal fins.

* DANETTE GOULET is the city editor. She can be reached at (714)

965-7170 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.