COMMENTS & CURIOSITIES:

The Lord works in strange ways. And He’s not the only one.

Every columnist has his spies. Mine are everywhere: public places, private places, high places, low places, top floors of buildings, back seats of cars. It’s amazing what goes on.

On Thursday, a very highly placed source at Costa Mesa City Hall tipped me off to a story that was custom made for this space, which is to say, off-center and deeply devoid of meaning.

You’ve seen Bethel Towers of course — the high-rise senior residential tower on 19th Street in Costa Mesa. It’s a little out of place at 18 stories, always has been. Something else out-of-place about Bethel Towers all these years has been its address — 666 West 19th St.

Having a senior facility stamped with the Biblical mark of the Beast was eerie to some and offensive to others as a matter of faith. The Book of Revelation says that anyone who has the mark of 666 will be “ tormented with burning sulfur ” and “ cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

I have no idea what any of that means, but it doesn’t sound good. One more bit of irony about the “666” address — Bethel Towers is owned and operated by the Southern California Assemblies of God.

There were a number of attempts over the years to change that “666,” but it didn’t happen. Until Ann Reagan got involved, that is.

Ann, who has lived in Bethel Towers for some five years, is a 73-year old bundle of energy whose nickname is “On the Go Ann.” Ann started on the road less traveled early, as in the day she was born.

She and her twin sister made the front page of the old Los Angeles Daily News when they were one of three sets of twins born in four days at White Memorial Hospital in East L.A.

Some 70 years later, when she settled into Bethel Towers, she heard about the previous attempts to get those three unsettling numbers above the door changed and decided to take a run at it.

Ann made her case to Costa Mesa Mayor Eric Bever, who personally escorted her to the Costa Mesa Planning Department.

Funny thing about city halls, if you walk into an office with a mayor, you don’t have to wait as long.

Faster than you could say up popped the devil, Bethel Towers’ address became 678 West 19th Street.

I also learned some interesting trivia from Ann Reagan. Ever wonder why it’s called “Bethel Towers,” considering there is only one tower? Apparently, the developer had planned to build two towers, with one on the lot just to the east, but couldn’t close the deal. Only one tower was built, but he left the original name intact.

And in fact, it’s that lot next door, to the east, that makes this rather mundane story not so mundane. Do you know what’s on that very same lot next door? Anyone? Right you are, you little devil — the DMV.

Talk about a missed opportunity. With the stroke of a pen, or a keyboard, the city could have removed 666 from Bethel Towers and given it to the DMV, which many people believe, regardless of their religious preference, is where it belongs.

Personally I believe that if there is a hell, it works exactly like the DMV. It’s really, really crowded, and the first person you see says “Window 3” without looking at you.

No matter what you ask — “Am I in the right place?” “Is this the right form?” “Am I supposed to be here?” — all they will say is “Window 3.”

You will stand in line at Window 3 for 280 years behind a young woman with a baby who shrieks nonstop and in front of an elderly man who keeps poking you with his walker.

When you get to Window 3, 280 years later, the woman behind the counter will say, “Wrong line. Window 12.” No matter what question you ask, all she will say is “Window 12.”

When you find Window 12, the line is twice as long as Window 3, i.e., 560 years. The same old man with the walker is now in front of you, moving so slowly that people are continually cutting in line in front of him.

You are the last person in line until the young woman with the baby shows up behind you. The baby is still crying, except now he can pull your hair, which he likes, but not enough to stop crying. In the first 120 years at Window 12, the line moves four feet. Finally, as you’re about to hit 800 years total, it occurs to you — no matter where you are, you’re in the wrong line.

Now, sadly, the chance is lost, and we can only dream of what might have been. Costa Mesa could have been the only city in the country with a listing of “Department of Motor Vehicles — 666 West 19th St.”

I suppose opportunity can knock more than once, but it’s not going to knock the door down for heaven’s sake. I gotta go.

PETER BUFFA is a former Costa Mesa mayor. His column runs Sundays. He may be reached at ptrb4@aol.com.