Every year for the past 20 years, I have been attending the Concerts in the Park series in Downey. They always start off with an introduction of the mayor, who usually has a couple of jokes to tell -- some funny and some not so funny. 

The mayor at the time was Mario Guerra. One day, I decided to take him a couple of jokes. 

I had never been to the Downey Civic Center before but I thought it would be easy to find. I set out with my jokes in an envelope beside me in the car. I went up and down the street several times -- back and forth, up and down for what seemed like an eternity. Finally I stopped the car and sat there contemplating what to do next. 

I heard a tapping on the window. I rolled down the window and a police officer said, “Lady, what are you doing?” 

I said, “I am looking for a parking space -- I have an envelope to deliver to the mayor. I have been going back and forth, up and down for quite some time without any luck.” 

He said, “I know. I have been watching you for 10 minutes. Do you know that this is a one-way street?” 

I replied, “No, I’m sorry.” 

He said, “Follow me and I’ll find you one.” He let me go with the warning, “Please be more vigilant in the future.” 

That was one kind police officer and very gentlemanly too.