You see, it was my birthday weekend. I learned a long time ago that celebrating one’s birthday mostly involved spending money so that others could toast and eat while wishing you. This year I applied the money to me and took myself to San Francisco for a few days. (What a bastard!)
(The streets of the city can be so demanding.)
I love being in that city. Folk there mostly have a good-nature/humored attitude that makes me smile. Even the less fortunate have a pretty good attitude when their pan-handling does not yield the expectation. I’ve said before it makes me feel like home in a lot of ways… since I grew up in a city with a similar vibe.
The ride up via Amtrak took a little longer than usual. In fact, we got to our destinations about an hour later because the freight traffic sharing the lines had almost doubled being that it was so early in the year. Even through that the conversations overheard on the train was entertainment enough.
(My favorite alleyway in Chinatown.)
Here are some impressions of the trip:
There were at least 3 ex-cons just released from Cochran prison on the train and heading home and audibly making plans and to finally get onto the “straight & narrow”. They were obviously hungry for conversation and freely engaged with those sitting around them. Me and the rest of the carriage wished them well as they disembarked at Stockton.
One of my favorite things to do is check out alleyways… yeah, I’m funny like that. To me it is akin to an archaeological dig. You never know what you can find back there. With the diverse rich history of the area one is liable to come across a bit of it’s hidden past. So, I spent a lot of time just walking around and exploring.
(My favorite dive bar on Jones & Geary… stumbling distance to my hotel and 7 Indian restaurants.)
The Asian bar maids at one of my favorite dive bars were another source of entertainment. If you are thinking “demure & submissive” you would be way off the mark. Bouncy and gregarious would be more accurate. Obviously, immigrants who came here to find the great American party life.
On my last night… one of them (off duty) came in to show off her Air Force “baby son” and his new wife to her co-workers and some regulars. This was both slightly bizarre and touching because she was already half lit when they got there.
So, I had a good time. Apart from the delightful assault on the senses the trip also allowed me to reflect what came before and to ponder how I want it (my life) to unfold from this point forward. I ate well and my leg muscles have been toned up from all the walking I did.
Part of my plan was to do some shopping but I opted out of that to instead enjoy and delight in the buzz of the city. Needless to say if I didn’t already schedule a video shoot for today I would have extended my trip. Still, I’m glad to be back refreshed and rearing to go.
So, yeah… I’m good. (And probably still a bastard… live with it!)
Cheers!
(Love me some street bustle.)