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| Dream A Little Dream ... |
04/13/02 - I have had only brief and far between contact with San Francisco since I left in 1981. So when The New Guy* asked if I would know my way around, I told him not to count on it. But everything seemed to come back to me. We headed to the North Beach area first. We stumbled down this one street and something from my past appeared .... O'Reilly's. It's a very cool (literaryish) Irish Pub. The walls inside are covered with framed artwork, clippings, drawings ... all really interesting stuff. But we sat out front at a table on the sidewalk. We got to see interesting people walk by, and we got to enjoy the sunshine. IT WAS HOT in San Francisco that day. Who knew? Doesn't happen often. Anyway it was about 10 a.m. so we had breakfast. The New Guy had french toast with strawberries and cream. I had oatmeal raspberry pancakes, short stack. They also brought us a basket of Irish soda bread, which I gathered a couple of pieces from to take for later. It was so cool sitting there together. The food was great. We totally enjoyed it. Next we walked to CITY LIGHT BOOKS, established 1953, home of the Beatniks. It was an old haunt of mine. I've been trying to get back there for the last two years. The New Guy does not read or write for enjoyment, he's more auditory. He loves music and has a fantastic collection. But, he likes that I write and he's very encouraging of me. I picked out a couple of books and a postcard. The New Guy offered to pay, but I said I would cover my book buying addiction. We continued strolling around till we hit California St., which has a cable car line on it. We did the cable car to the end of the line one way, then back to the end of the line the other way. The New Guy's first cable car ride. I used to ride that cable car daily to get to a job I had. Then we took a Trolley Car to get to Pier 39. It's pretty much a tourist trap, but The New Guy had been there once before and really liked it. Some day I'll show him the real Fisherman's Wharf. Anyway, we went into this University t-shirt shop. There was a UC Berkely shirt on sale, The New Guy bought it for me. Then we went to Bubba Gumps for lunch and then to their little store. There was a t-shirt on sale there that I liked, The New Guy bought it for me. Then we went into this one store and I kind of went one way and The New Guy went the other. When we met back up, he was buying something. I asked what it was and he said he'd show me later and put a little bag in my bigger bag. We then went back the way we came, trolley car, cable car. We walked through China Town ( at least 10 blocks) to get back to our parking garage. Well, the natives were all out doing their shopping at the open air markets that lined that particular street, food markets. Who knows what that stuff they were buying was. It all looked very strange. But how cool it was to be there amongst strange odors and strange people feeling very safe with The New Guy. It was a wonderful day. Oh yeah, I didn't stay over at The New Guy's that night. We were exhausted and he had to work the next day, and I needed to be alone. When I got home I opened the little bag that The New Guy put in my bag. He bought me the most beautiful little wooden heart shaped jewlery box. It was carved on top with a cable car scene and the words San Francisco carved as well. It was lined in red velvet and ... it played music, I left my heart in San Francisco, of course. Very romantic, very sweet. This all actually happened last weekend. I’m doing some catch up here. The last couple of weeks have been crazy for me. It’s been a whirlwind something or other. I’ve had so much on my mind. I wouldn’t say I’ve been confused, or even overwhelmed. But whatever it’s been has been incredible. Must be The New Guy! * This title, The New Guy, is not to be confused with the FNG, which means F---ing New Guy, a term used by the guys in Nam. Something’s happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear ... |