After the earthquake the New York Times took an interest in this town. After all, a community known for being off the wall had just lost its walls. So they peered through the bars periodically to see how we were all doing.

Don was mayor, and so the Times reporter talked with him about the ups and downs of earthquake recovery. The prospect of being a quote in the Times can bring out the best or the worst in people. An opportunity for immortality doesn’t come along every day. But Don rose to the occasion with a lucid observation:

“People here are convinced that they have a great deal to teach the rest of the world. They’re just not sure what it is.”