Nightglow Window

But Reality Is Often Different

James Lipton, host of the Actor's Studio, asks each of his guests the same series of questions, taken from a French series, "Bouillon de Culture" hosted by Bernard Pivot. They're good, thought provoking queries:

1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off?
5. What is your favorite curse word?
6. What sound or noise do you love?
7. What sound or noise do you hate?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

I was always surprised with myself when the answer "baker" was among my answers to question #8. In my mind's eye it just seemed simple and pure.

At least that's what I thought. I sat down last week with Joe M., Owner of V.G.'s Bakery in Cardiff. I'm writing a story on the business for Encinitas Magazine. Now, V.G.'s is an instituion. Its donuts are so good they seem to produce a lifelong loyalty. I remember heading into V.G.'s when I was writing a profile of Paul Roach back in 1990. This is what I wrote back then:

VG's is packed and noisy but Roach maneuvers his way through the crowd with an energetic zeal that seems boundless. His blue eyes dart around the room, his hands and fingers never stop moving and his speech and demeanor exude one thing: energy.

He bursts out the bakery doors, chocolate glazed doughnut crammed in his mouth and races for his car, an old blue Volvo stationwagon. "These are the world's best doughnuts," he said, halfway finished with his second chocolate glazed. "Perfect energy food for a session at Seaside."

VG's donuts were good then, and -- seventeen years later -- they're still good now. "The best" many claim.

Joe, now middle aged, began working at V.G.'s when he was fourteen and bought out his father in 1986. It's a third-generation family business. He's been at it for decades and shows no sign of slowing down. He appears to have a good life, put four children through college, is a nice guy and gets to go surfing a lot. But it clearly ain't easy. Even being a mainstay of the community isn't a sure recipe for continued success.

It's clear that he works hard and rises way, way too early for most. He's at work by 4:00 a.m. and doesn't usually need an alarm clock.

He was an interesting guy and is clearly successful in more ways than one. Nevertheless, my conversation with him scratched "baker" off my list of answers to Pivot's Questionnaire.

“It’s an honest business, but it’s a demanding one,” he says.