One hundred years of memories

BARBARA DIAMOND

Caroline Vrbenski greeted the New Year with a solid century behind

her. She turned 100 on Dec. 24.

“Even though she has slowed down a bit, she is still such a

pleasure to be with and her humor keeps us entertained,” said friend

and caretaker Cathy Wyatt.

Vrbenski was Wyatt’s maid in the 1980s. Now, Wyatt is returning

the favor.

“She was a lot better housekeeper than I am,” Wyatt said. “And I

sure don’t make strudel like she used to make for me.”

Vrbenski was born in Samobor, Croatia. She later lived in Chicago

and Los Angeles before settling in Laguna Beach more than 50 years

ago.

She made hundreds of friends in her travels and cherishes the

memories.

Vrbenski has a special fondness for the late Bette Davis and the

actress’ mother, Ruth, for whom she worked in Laguna Beach at their

homes on Diamond Street, not far from where she now lives.

She loves to watch home movies of her life while sipping a

cocktail. She also enjoys looking through the many photographs and

letters she has saved over the years from her family and friends,

including ones from her father, August, dated 1929, and from her

beloved husband, Mikey, known to many in Laguna as a custodian at

Laguna Beach High School.

“Just think of all the things that have taken place during her

lifetime,” Wyatt said. “From jets to space travel; radios to

television to DVDs.

“The year she was born, bread was 4 cents a loaf in the United

States” Wyatt said. “Milk was 29 cents a gallon. Cars cost $500. A

house cost $4,000. Stamps were 2 cents each. The average income was

$750 a year. The average close of the Dow was 49.”

Cynics say that New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken.

Wishes are sturdier. They come from the heart.

Vrbenski’s wish for 2004: “Everybody should love everybody.”

World peace tops Trudy Grossman’s wish list.

“I just came back from two weeks in Vietnam,” Grossman said,

“Seeing the place where we were at war and seeing what is going on in

the world makes me feel so sad that people are being killed all

over.”

Grant McCombs, who served his country in three wars, also wishes

for world peace.

Jeanie Bernstein, who can be seen most Saturdays toting a peace

placard at Main Beach, wishes “that great good should come to all who

work to sustain the dream of a peaceful world. I want them to be

successful.”

WISH LISTS

* Architect Tim Howell: “ I wish the new road in Laguna Canyon

would be completed as soon as possible. The road is dangerous, and we

have been waiting for it for too long.”

* Artist Jacquie Moffett: “As involved as I am with the Festival

of Arts, I wish the high emotions would subside and we all --

artists, administrators and supporters -- would use all of our

energies for positive goals.”

* Marine Safety Capt. Kevin Snow: “A safe and sound year in the

aquatic environment and for the whole city.”

* Beautification Council and Laguna Beach Woman’s Club member

Cossie Mechling: “I wish the women of the world were running it

instead of the men.”

* Laguna Canyon Foundation Vice President Peter Kote: “I wish to

fund the interpretive exhibit planned for the new Nix Nature Center

in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.”

* Realtor Bobbi Cox: “To find a new car that I like as well as my

old one. I’m in my car so much I need to have one with a cockpit that

fits me and has space for maps, my phone, pencils, business cards,

lipstick -- and still be able to see everywhere.”

* Award-winning landscape designer Jeff Powers: “My top wish is

too political to share, but I think some objectivity on the council

about themselves and their pet projects would really help the city.

Better feelings and more civility would be good.”

* Laguna Beach Live! President Cindy Prewitt: “Closest to my heart

is being able to present more wonderful music in town.”

* “Re-retired” U.S. Marine Col. Charles Quilter, who participated

in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Marine aviation historian and

operations analyst: “My first wish is for peace, security, political

freedom and prosperity for the people of Iraq. And second, grant our

local and national political leaders wisdom and common sense --

that’s from both Ann and me.”

* Artist Joan Corman: “Health, love, wisdom with clear vision and

pancakes without carbohydrates.”

* Villa Rockledge owner Roger Jones: “To successfully produce a

full-length, feature film on [the late] John Weld, a Laguna Beach

resident for more than 60 years and author of 13 books, 12 of them

published.”

* Laguna social conscience Marsha Bode: “I would like to raise the

funds to paint the house at the Hortense Miller Gardens so it does

not continue to deteriorate -- it is a city park. And I would like

the poles gone in the Arch Beach Heights under grounding project.”

* Veteran Jim Law: “My wish would be for the successful completion

of Operation Iraqi Freedom so we can bring our troops home --

something we are well on the way to completing already.”

* Athens Group representative John Mansour: “To love my family and

mature in my Faith.” (He requested the capital F.)

* South Coast Medical Center marketing coordinator Kate Tschudin:

“I wish the hospital and the city could just slow down a bit and

appreciate what we have. I still look around on my way home and

marvel at how beautiful it is. We are so lucky.”

* Retired Fire Department Capt. Bing Boka: “My wish for the New

Year is that it is peaceful; that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gets us

out of debt and the troops come home.”

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.