HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

A year has passed since I moved to San Francisco. Feb 1st marked the 365th day I have been a resident of this magnificent city! There are moments where it feels like a long time ago that I unpacked the car from my 3,000 mile journey. I moved here in pursuit of happiness. I was chasing my long time dream of moving west to the mecca of liberal progression. Life in California is all that I dreamed of and more.

When I came to visit I fell instantly and madly in love with San Francisco. I knew it was where I am supposed to be with absolute certainty. I moved here without knowing ANYONE and without a job. All I had was my faithful canine companion, Derby, and a lot of hope.

I faced many trying moments. The city tested me. Many times she asked "are you sure you want to be here young suburban girl?" And each time I answered her, "YES I am sure I want to be here" Brushing myself off after each fall and adjusting to the many changes I faced in moving to an unfamiliar city far away from friends, family, and everything I knew. I spent 26 years in Florida and it was time to move on. It was time to start a new chapter in my life and re-create myself.

I have since built a community and an expanding circle of friends. I can confidently navigate my way around the city (most of the time), and I feel at home here. I have assimilated to the city culture. I have become a San Francisco cliche and I like it! I walk Derby through golden gate park in the mornings while drinking my home made kale, hemp seed shake out of a mason jar, "epic" and "no worries" have become a part of my daily vocabulary, I walk and bike as a main form of transportation, I refer to places that do not recycle and compost as "the stone age", I can parallel park into the smallest spaces like a professional, I know the schedule of all the open air farmers markets, I have the number for the train schedule predictor programmed into my phone, I am a card carrying member of the bike coalition, and my concept of what is "weird" has been pushed to a whole new level. It is wonderful to live somewhere so beautiful, liberal, and progressive; somewhere I really fit in.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY San Francisco! It has been a year and I can honestly say I am more in love every day!

Out the back door of my flat. I walk down the creaky wooden stairs to the basement. My bicycle awaits. It is hanging on the wall mounted rack amongst the other tenants' bikes. Everyone in San Francisco has at least one bike and the basement of my building is proof of that!

I roll up my right pant leg (to ride without interference of the bike chain), put my helmet on and clip the chin strap.

Pedaling through town on my vintage Japanese road bike circa 1970. I admire the city as I spin through her busy streets.
Cars and bikes glide in unison. The bike culture here is prominent, with a bike coalition membership of over 12,000 people (myself included)! I am a true San Francisco dweller, using my bike as a main form of transportation.

I propel myself forward, eyes closed for just a moment to really feel the sun on my skin and cool breeze on my face. I back pedal to hear the whirring sound that takes me back to childhood memories. The nostalgia brings a smile to my face.

Approaching my route to downtown I gently clutch the brakes to slow and cross an intersection. Ahead lies a cluster of light rail tracks carved into the asphalt. A maze of multiple rail tracks overlap and intertwine. Fellow bikers have proclaimed warning of this area known for accidents. "Be sure to cross the tracks perpendicular with your tires, and very carefully!" they said. I had brushed off the cautions not having fully understood the significance of this advice.

Sure enough as I turned to look over my shoulder and slowly cross the street, the voice in my head replayed that advice. It was too late. I felt the thump of my bike tire as it slide directly into the narrow rail track crevice. My bike jolted and catapulted me forward. Bucking me off instantly in what felt like slow motion at the same time. I came colliding down and my body met the pavement. Skin scraping across the rough surface, I slid until the forces ceased and my bike came crashing down on me, pedals still spinning, my bike lock went flying. Laying there disoriented, I heard the light rail approaching. The train's breaks screeched loudly and the conductor honked at me. I was directly in front of the train and in the way.

A passer by came to my aid and picked up the lock, peeled the bike off me, and helped me to my feet. I sat on the side walk assessing the damage. A cracked helmet, scraped chin, hands, palms, wrist, knee, foot, and elbow. Bright red blood gushing from various places, and bruises surely to come. The worst of the battle wounds was the hockey puck size scrape above my elbow. Blood dripped down my arm. In the city people say there are two types of bikers: ones that have fallen, and ones that will fall.

I wear the scar of San Francisco, forever on my arm, like a tattoo.

Golden Coast, Golden Gate

The house is asleep. It is early and still dark.

I gather my belongings for the day; keys, lunch, cell phone. I finish getting ready and dress Derby in his collar and leash. Tail sweeping back and forth, Derby is excited to start the day.

Out the door en route to work. We make our way through Golden Gate Park. A pleasant mile walk to meet with a coworker for carpool. The dawn is quiet.

The park wears the morning well. Dew gently covers its fields. Water droplets decorate its trees, tiny perfect beads glistening in the rising sunlight. The park is lush and green.

We walk past the conservatory of flowers, an elaborate Victorian greenhouse which resembles a bird cage. It looks like a fairy tale set in British India.

My ipod pipes out music and I manipulate the soundtrack to my life.

Walking by the morning Tai Chi group I catch a glance of their movement in unison. Their flux waves a calm in the air.

We meet with a colleague, Danna. Derby is excited at the site of her maroon Subaru station wagon. I open the door for him and he hops right in. Danna twists around and leans into the back seat to greet him. She rests her face against his and embraces him with love and lots of silly nick names. She is one of the most enthusiastic dog lovers I have ever met!

We approach the iconic and ever proud Golden Gate Bridge. It is sobering to see. The sight of the bridge still makes me tingle. The sunshine sparkles on the mighty Pacific water. The sprawling city behind us, Alcatraz Island, sailboats in the bay. Tourists snapping their photos capturing their memories as we drive past.

The weather in San Rafel is much warmer. I remove my scarf and jacket and underneath is my Florida wardrobe, with which I have recently reunited.

Derby makes a round greeting his fans at the office. I sit at my desk and put my headset on, power up my computer and turn on my dual flat screen monitors to begin the workday. Derby is at my feet curled up on his bed.

On the ride home we drive through the mountains and the curving tunnel. It feels like we are driving through a kaleidoscope. I squint to see her, the way a young child squints to see the gems at the end of the scope. She waits for us, the Golden Gate Bridge. This time decorated in fog, swirled around her like a cupcake's frosting. Surreal, and truly beautiful.

Circle of Eight

Recently I invited friends over to my flat to enjoy a home cooked meal.
I made a hearty twelve bean and vegetable soup from scratch, seasoned Bulgar Wheat, and sautéed green beans. Friends came over with a bottle of California Wine, and fresh bread from the neighborhood bakery.

We gathered in the living room. Conversation
flowed, laughter echoed, food was savored, and good company was enjoyed.

I paused to take it all in. I looked around at this group of people I know as
friends. Eight new people, eight new lives; eight new
friendships. I felt content, accomplished, and so happy.

I am creating an expanding circle of friends, a home, and a community, all of the things I wished for before moving across the country to this unfamiliar place and time.

Love "in the Haight"

The scent of Eucalyptus gently wafts through the open window of my 105 year old Victorian flat. The scent is inviting and calls us to the outdoors.

Derby and I walk across the street to the panhandle of Golden Gate Park to enjoy lush greenery cradled by whizzing cars in the midst of the city.

In the park hand holding lovers stroll past, a group of friends on a blanket in the grass taking in the sunshine, joggers and bikers on their designated paths.

On the way home we walk through the neighborhood blocks, exploring and admiring. Ornate facades of Victorian and Edwardian buildings stop me in my track and I stare in a daze of awe.

Quaint tree lined streets and coffee shops. This lovely area I now know as my neighborhood and my home. Up the half flight of stairs and into the house, Derby's paws click-clack on the hardwood floors. The creeks of the apartment have become familiar and pleasant. I love my new neighborhood and I feel home.

Park It

I live in a city known for its micro climates where the weather varies from one neighborhood to the next. I live in a neighborhood notorious for the worst weather in the city with constant fog and wind and I find myself chasing the sunshine. I awoke to the promising sound of birds chirping a sweet song outside my bedroom window. I extended my arms and legs for a full stretch, rubbed my eyes, and parted the blinds hoping for sunshine. Much to my disappointment were fog and blanket clouds in sight.

A bowl of oatmeal warmed my stomach and I headed out the door with Derby for our morning walk.

A phone call from a friend inviting me to play outside was the perfect pick me up. "Come over its so nice out!" he said. "It is?" I asked with excitement. "Yeah, come over" he exclaimed.

I put on a long flowing sun dress and walked to the corner to catch the Muni (light rail train) in pursuit of some California sunshine and the company of a friend.

Sure enough when I got off the Muni and walked up the stairs out of the under ground station the sky was bright blue and the sun was shinning gloriously.

We headed to Dolores Park one of my favorite places here. It is a popular spot in the city, especially on a nice day. The park's hillside buzzing with people. It was the usual scenery; frisbees flying, barbeques smoking, people lazily laying in the grass, vendors wheeling their carts peddling ice cream and sweet treats.

A typical and picture perfect Sunday in San Francisco.

We found a spot to camp out and nestled into the cool green grass. I hiked up my dress and unveiled my legs to the sun in attempt to recover the color I have lost since I moved here. I watched the clouds breeze by and listened to the park.

In the distance a bow smoothed across a cello and the melody soothed my ears. I gazed over to see the impromptu concert of friends. A guitar joined in and made for part of the park's soundtrack.

A young man with tan skin and tight arms made his way through the maze of people strewn about. He was carrying bronze antique looking water pots with white miniature canvas umbrellas protruding. He bent down and revealed the goodies to three smiling girls on a nearby blanket. They pointed to the pot in the middle. The young man used a pair of tongs to gently extract the chocolate truffles and placed them into a crisp bakery bag handing them over to the girls.

The exchange, the idea of home made chocolate truffles for sale in the park, the whole park experience, brings a smile to my face. I lay back, close my eyes and soak in the moment.

Tourist to Tour Guide...

I have officially been in San Francisco long enough to have visitors! I have been entrusted with the role of showing people around my new backyard. I have evolved from tourist to tour guide.

My dear friend Emily came to visit and stayed with me for two weeks. During Emily's two week stay our wonderful mutual friend, Reese, came to stay for five days as well. It was so nice to have the company of good friends.

Among the must see attractions of San Francisco, we went to local farmer's markets, The Golden Gate Bridge, The Fisherman's Wharf, The Pier, Ghirardelli Square, Chinatown, downtown, all the neighborhoods and districts, parks, the beach, hiking at Mount Diablo and the Marin Headlands, nightlife, restaurants, and most memorable was our participation in San Francisco's 99th annual Bay to Breakers.

Bay to Breakers is a 12k race through the city as well as giant street parade of public intoxication, and costumed chaos of over 60,000 participants. The name Bay to Breakers comes from the fact that the race begins downtown adjacent to the San Francisco Bay and cuts westward through the city to the finish line at the Great Highway, adjacent to the Pacific where the "breakers" crash onto the beach.

The footrace starts early in the morning with registered participants that run for time and competition. Later the unregistered participants join the festivities in vulgar, extreme, and hilarious creative costumes, and some without, as the race is known for its many nude participants. Major city streets are shut down to allow the streaming crowd of city dwellers to mill through, wreaking havoc upon the town. It was one giant hanging cannabis cloud. Bay to Breakers makes Mardi Gras look like the Mickey Mouse Club.

People start drinking early in the morning and are soon rowdy, rapt, and trekking through San Francisco's streets with bottles of liquor in hand, pushing shopping carts full of beer, floats decorated extravagantly, and of course hauling kegs and sound systems blaring music. Reese, Emily and myself were dressed as "3 blind mice" and joined a group of my friends as we took to the streets at 9am with bottles of Vodka, Whisky, Champagne, and beer. We were drunk by 10am and hungover at 3pm. We marched the streets pointing out all of the madness, taking pictures with the wild costumes, laughing, and through out the event had a series of meeting up with friends and separating through the dense crowd.

It was incredible to share my first Bay to Breakers experience with two of my best friends, and of course the 59,997 others! I cant wait for next year's Bay to Breakers and the many other events that San Francisco is known for! Next month's event on my list: the two day long Gay Pride Parade!