A Day In The City

What a combo, three French Madmosielles, one French, but thinks he is American, but really is FRENCH, gentleman, and one Britica lady taking San Francisco and the city by storm. What a memorable day for so many different reasons. Seeing SF through the eyes of others is so much fun... Caroline was a delight...your true tourist -- taking a picture every couple of steps. The ebb and flow of French. When I heard English spoken on the streets beside me, it pulled me back to the reality that I was in fact still in an English speaking country!! Ok, well country but not necessarily city. A Saturday in August in the City means that the streets are abound in the tongues of those not from America.

We traversed the city first by car, then by foot, and returned to the car to travel over the Bridge (Golden Gate) - which was glorious in the glow of the late afternoon sun. Then off to Tiburon for an early evening drink, then into Berkeley to take in the sights of the University and enjoy the tastes of a French take out restaurant -- yum to potato puffs!!!

A 12 hour day from door to door, but one of those days that resonate - perhaps because my legs are crying out mini protests, or perhaps more because of the fact that community with one another exists even when constraints such as language are evident.

I might not have understood most of what was said in French, but what I did "hear" was affection and love between the four family members as they bantered back and forth and shared life together. There is something special when you get to experience that from the peripheral. Oftentimes in community settings their is a common language, and you can typically understand it you don't get to be an observer as much because you are as much as a part of the bobbing and weaving as the next person.

As we were sitting over drinks the question "What was your favourite part of the day?" was posed. At the time I didn't have an answer, and although now my answer is sure to sound contrived and perhaps overly sentimental it is true and sincere. My favourite part of the day was being able to share the time with friends - old and new - being able to share in a community of hope and love, and at the same time enjoy the unique blend of life that California has to offer.

I hope to post some photos in the next day or two.