Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig (SF vol. IV)

How much more could we pack into one weekend? Well, it wasn't over yet. MJ and I both woke up a little late on Sunday (I with amazingly no after-effects from the previous night), but got right to it. After getting clean and beautiful, we headed out for breakfast and the beginning of the final day of my visit. I don't even remember the name of the place we went to, but it was a little bagel shop down the strip from a Peet's coffee. MJ got a bagel, I got a grilled panini and a Martinelli's apple juice. First intrigued by the neat bottle, MJ gave me a "Welcome to California!" when I took my first sip. It is the most delicious juice I've ever had the luck to experience--like poking a straw into a fresh apple that I would pick off of the tree in my front yard. We headed to Peet's once our bellies were full, mainly to pick up a souvenir for the Hub. Not really knowing for sure what to bring him back, hearing MJ talk about how delicious Peet's coffee is, knowing how much the Hub loves his coffee, and, sadly, attracted by the name (remember, my beloved feline-son Peter), I decided that some freshly-ground house blend was the way to go. The very helpful, very friendly little guy behind the counter assisted me in figuring that the house blend was probably the best way to go for my Hub, and he gave me a complimentary cup, to boot. My friend MJ does not lie. It is the best coffee I've ever had. Out the door with the Hub's gift, we decided to go ahead and take care of some more sight-seeing. First off to the Golden Gate Bridge, which is by far more picturesque than I had ever imagined. MJ waited patiently for me while I snapped pictures of the bridge, the passing sailboats, the surrounding areas, the water and sky on the horizon, the breakers on the rocks, and everything else. The salty air was like home, comforting and enveloping and reaching into the furthest depths of my being.
Noting the time, I surrendered to the car and we drove out to Lombard Street. The most crooked/curvy street in the world, it's touted. MJ again waited for me while I acted like a tourist, getting the best pictures after I scaled a little half-wall and teetered precariously at the top. Rejoining MJ, we made our way down the street, her driving skills never failing, but my abused stomach growing a bit testy. More pictures from the bottom, and we were off again. This time to North Beach, which was the setting of a large portion of the Beat movement back in the 60s. We saw City Lights Bookstore and Jack Kerouac Alley, where I hopped out to again take more pictures, including one shot down the alley which was completed by the homeless man laying on the sidewalk. We didn't have time to go into the bookstore, so MJ circled the block and picked me up at the corner of the alley and Columbus. While waiting to get back onto Columbus, I looked up to see two big box trucks (like Ryder Moving trucks) that had "Stop Abortion Now" messages written on the sides, complete with real photos of aborted fetuses. Gross, yes, but naturally, I had to get some pictures of them. Again, could I use that damn Hello thing or figure out some way to post my photos, you would be able to see them {Update: Still working on the photo program, but I was able to get one Abortion Truck picture up}. Anyway, I was still needing to pick up some souvenirs for some of my friends, so we headed on to Chinatown. MJ parked the car and we walked up and down the streets of Chinatown, being accosted on every corner by little Asian women advertising Dim Sum. I eventually found all of the needed goods, and though we could have walked around a lot longer, the time was not permitting. On the way out we hit a Chinese market, where I picked up some real Chinese candy for the Hub (he has since eaten it all but the Super-Ume "It's so good candy", which I guess was really sour). He was especially a fan of the White Rabbit cream candies, in case you need a recommendation. The trip back to the flat to grab my bags and then the following drive to the airport were just like any other drive we'd taken over the weekend--it was as if it hadn't really sunk in that I was leaving already. Such a short trip, but so incredibly rewarding. When MJ dropped me off at the airport, I had tears in my eyes. We've known each other since we were 17, and though we have both gone on with our separate lives, we are very much kindred spirits. I said it to her over the weekend and I'll say it again: you never have friends who know you like the ones you had in college (though MJ and I met sooner, we were friends throughout our college years; I even still have her college graduation announcement). Something about the people who knew you when you were first becoming who you are today. They're irreplaceable. Getting home at almost 2am on Monday (Kansas time) thanks to United Airlines, I was wiped out. I had a doctor's appointment that afternoon, so I had already made accommodations for work, but I called them around 7:30am and let them know that I for sure wouldn't be coming in. Let the dogs out to pee, turn the lights on for the lizards, and it was back to bed, this time curling up in the nest that the Hub makes in the pillowtop of our mattress. Something about that spot for me is golden, and I was out again until after 2pm. My appointment ended up being cancelled (not bad, since I've only had it since February), so I loafed around with the kids for the rest of the afternoon and reflected on how lucky I am to have the friends I do and the life they've been a part of helping me create.