‘Til Next Time

The time came to leave.  It’s been a fine stay in this city by the bay.  The weather since I arrived has been inviting and the timing of my departure was seemingly just right.  It was a drizzly morning and the forecast seemed to be rain, rain, and more rain.  I came to do a job and seemingly got the job done right.  But along with the tasks at hand also came new acquaintances … acquaintenances I hope with grow into new working relationships and foster new opportunities.  And it wasn’t all business in this 5 day stay.  I was also able to spend time with a close cousin … good family time that was long over due.

It was a great change in scenery.  Driving along the many bridges that pulls the bay area together is an experience in itself.  I did manage make it over the Golden Gate bridge one more time.  This time we got a special treat as paramedics paused traffic to do a rescue at mid-bridge.  There we were at the crest and stopped with no car in front of us to block the view of the commotion on the curbside.  We couldn’t see what the emergency was, but enough to know it was someone in urgent need of medical help on the side walk.  We were there for several minutes and if the fire truck and flashing lights weren’t cool enough for my 8 year-old nephew and 5 year-old niece, the Coast Guard helicopter that dropped in and hovered next to bridge – just yards away from us - was enough to get my nephew to exclaim, “This is the most excitement moment in my life!”

And then of course there is the ocean.  I took Highway 92, the San Mateo  – a floating bridge that almost makes you feel like you’re walking (or rather driving) on water.  I used it to cross the bay and make my way into the east-side.  It was then I felt San Francisco’s welcome as it greeted me with the familiar scent of the sea.  I rolled down my windows, took a deep breathe and sighed, “Ahhh, I have arrived.”  I didn’t actually touch the Pacific this time around, but the varying sights of it during the crystal clear day from the vista point at Golden Gate to the foggy evening looking out from the wharf was enough for it to have touched me once more.

The trip was all around a pleasant one.  Not even the expected congestion and traffic that comes with a metropolitan was present.  My drive to San Francisco International was hardly inhibited by any significant rush hour even in the wet, morning drive at 7:30am.  Perhaps it was a fluke.  Or perhaps since it’s been so long since my last visit, even the slightest dose of San Francisco was enough to intoxicate me not to notice the minor unpleasantries.  Whatever it is, I could only wish that for all the souveniers I can have the one thing I wish I could do was bottle up a little bit of San Fran’ to bring home with me …

’til next time.