Amtrak riders given annual, uh, thrill

[question everything]

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Amtrak riders given annual, uh, thrill

Hundreds of people bare their behinds to them in the 27th mooning of trains.

By TOM BERG
The Orange County Register

LAGUNA NIGUEL - Dismiss them if you like, but these people baring their behinds to passing trains are your neighbors, your children's teachers, your attorneys, your policemen, your World War II veterans and yes, even your mothers!

(snip)

Legend has it that this all began as a dare 27 years ago in the Mugs Away Saloon on Camino Capistrano. Patron K.T. Smith vowed to buy a drink for anyone who'd join him mooning the train across the street. A handful did. A tradition was born. On Saturday, that handful had grown to an estimated 5,000 people. Kids sold lemonade. Motor homes raised American flags, tiki torches flared and smoke issued from barbecue pits. Rock bands drove in from Vegas,. Vendors hawked jewelry and T-shirts from booths.

Nobody organizes this thing. Nobody promotes it.

"It's an amazing group of people," said Christine Anderson, manager of Mugs Away Saloon. "From World War II vets to Korean and Vietnam vets to currently enlisted men, to policemen, firemen and U.S. Customs. There are generations of families here." Not to mention women like Wanda Brace, 66, of Anaheim, a queen mother of the Red Hat Society – known more for tea parties than moon parties. "It's just pure fun – and losing one's inhibitions," said Brace, who wondered aloud if her Anaheim chapter might get expelled for its actions.

(snip)

Many trains slowed as they passed. Passengers waved and snapped pictures. A few mooned back, according to those at the fence.

(snip)

Mooning is not condoned in public, yet not really harmful, many said, making it just rebellious enough to unite them. A backward nation maybe, but a nation nonetheless.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1207104.php

[KyndCulture]

1. completely bizarre.

Is that a granny? omg.

[question everything]

2. A grandpa, rather

From the caption:

Carol Wichenheisser, 72

[Digit]

3. That gave me a good chuckle

Now I can hear my parrot mimicking my laugh in the background which is making me laugh harder.

Great post and thanks for making my day!

[question everything]

5. Thanks. And now I am chuckling reading your post (nt)

[NV Whino]

4. I took the train from NoCal to Ventura once

and was amazed to be mooned along the way.