Ah, eavesdropping and pensive on my Songline!

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I made it. After feeling like I was going to be trapped on the tarmac in Philadelphia and just making my connecting in MSP. (Thank you, Northwest Airlines, my luggage DID make it.)

Brigid and I were excitedly texting and calling each other all through out the day. We jumped for joy when she picked me up at the airport. We just couldn't stop patting
each other saying "I’m/you’re here." I've had a BIG ASS SMILE on my face!

We wisked down the 101 in her Jetta, and I mused about my Songline. Then, I saw a sign for Belmont. My cousins live there. I got to e-mail them…

I’m in the Castro Country Club for the free Wifi (well, I bought a coffee) and I love being able to listen in on the conversation. People are unabashedly willing to say all most anything with a total stranger in the room. I feel sort of Jane Goodall-ish.

(a mobile phone conversation) “You’re still with that crackhead, are you?.... What else does he do for you?”

“I never write the word, alcohol, I always right ETOH.”

“Just because I don’t have lesions all over my face doesn’t mean I’m not sick.”

“When did you get so pornographic at 74 years old?”

“I was trying to think if I should FedEx all my wigs there…”

“I’m kind of excited to turn 30. I’ve been looking forward to turning 30 since I was 16.”

It’s like an aural voyeurs’ wet dream.

It’s always an interesting slice of life.

Brigid dropped me at the Caltrain station as she left for Stanford, and I trained to Milbrae and transferred to the BART. I was smiling the entire time. I had important plans this morning!

I got out at the Powell station and headed for Mission Street. I ended up walking past the San Francisco Chronicle building. I hadn’t ever noticed it before. It looks like what a newspaper building should look like. I ended up in the financial area to get me a cup of Peet's Coffee – my favorite coffee. Someone I know hooked me up with that lovely liquid a few years back, and I'm still endebted! (I subtly mentioned this in an email to said someone and he got the refernce.)

Important plan A was done.

I took the F Market (important plan B) from the financial district down to the Castro to get a haircut and try to plan out my day today. I googled “free wifi in San Francisco” and got a lead of the Castro Country Club. It’s a misnomer, but it’s still a good space. It’s a social place for gay men to meet without alcohol. There are a lot of friends of Bill W here. Good for them. However, I got to hear some of quotes from above, it’s great fodder.

I guess I shouldn’t mention my trip to Napa, eh?

I’m here because I wanted to have a base in the city to figure out what I wanted to do today, but the life that’s unfolding right in front of me is too real to walk away from.


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