My sweetheart is a hippie girl and a high-tech geek. She's an earthquake survivor, a flower child, a dot-com pioneer, and a muse for a generation of beatniks. She bikes to work, buys organic, and organizes rallies to legalize same-sex marriage. She has a wild streak too. If you stumble into one of the local strip clubs, she'll give you an unforgettable lap dance that leaves you breathless (and penniless). The last time she met Tony Bennett, she captured his heart instantly. He still publicly serenades her every chance he gets. If I could, I would tuck her in every night, but she's roughly 46 square miles, way too big for my arms' reaches.My beloved is San Francisco, the City by the Bay. If you've ever seen the way she rests her head on one end of the Golden Gate Bridge and snuggles under a blanket of fog, you'll lose your heart to her too.
Two weeks ago, Tango Baby, a local blogger, emailed me about her project called I Live Here: SF, a photo gallery featuring San Franciscans and their stories. Would I meet her on the opposite side of her camera's lens, she asked. Sure, I'm game, I told her.
We met in Cafe Puccini, one of my favorite Bohemian retreats on Columbus Avenue. Here, in the heart of vintage San Francisco, where China Town meets North Beach, she put her talent to work.
We climbed up to the attic of City Lights Books, following the visceral turns in a flight of stairs, to be greeted by a stack of Allen Ginsberg's Howl. As I hugged an oversize poetry book, Tango Baby's shutter flickered.
The result of the photoshoot is my humble tribute to the city I call home, my love letter to San Francisco.
By the time we were done, the city was twinkling with a million bright lights, outshining the starry sky. My new photographer friend and I gave in to the temptation of fresh pasta and crispy calamari.
When we finally got ready to part ways, we discovered we actually live about six blocks away from each other. As we rode the train home together, I could almost hear the city giggling.
My sweetheart has a wondeful sense of humor.
(Photo by Tango Baby.)
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18 comments:
If you've ever seen the way she rests her head on one end of the Golden Gate Bridge and snuggles under a blanket of fog, you'll lose your heart to her too.
Oh, what a beautiful turn of phrase. You have a poet's heart I think. Another beautiful piece.
So funny! I was settling into your post and thinking, ah...I'll have to send TangoBaby the link to this post, she'd enjoy it ~ and then there she was, IN your post. LOL.
small world.
TC: Thanks! It's easy to be inspired by San Francisco.
Mtnhighmama: I believe I have you to thank for directing me to Tango Baby's blog in the first place. The world is indeed getting smaller. Now, because technology transcends time and distance, we have fewer than six degrees of separation among us.
Oh, I'm so happy you're sweetheart is everything you desire, no wonder people leave their hearts there!
Very cool. I've never thought about the places I've lived that way; you definitely do have the heart of a poet.
now i really wanna meet your sweetheart, too. sounds like it's my kind of place. haha.
'love your writing, kenneth! :D nice pic!
Beautiful. Perfect. Absolutely.
That says it all.
Kenneth, it was such a pleasure to meet you and an honor to capture your image in our mutual love (I have to say that SF is my sweetheart too).
Your words make my photo shine. I look forward to meeting you for a pint o'something and catching up.
And thanks for the links to my blog. I hope that some of your SF readers will follow your lead and become part of the project too.
;-)
tangobaby
Ally: San Francisco seems to bring out the poet in many--must be the air and the water around here. :-)
Acey: Thanks! My sweetheart welcomes visitors with open arms (and with flowers in her hair, as the famous song goes). She'll be glad to see you.
Kathryn: Thanks, from one San Franciscan to another :-)
Tangobaby: Thanks for allowing me to be part of your wonderful project. I had so much fun! See you later for a pint.
Martini making! That sounds so fun!
TC sent me here - what a beautiful depiction! take care..
I love the picture! And the post. You made me miss San Francisco.
Ruby: The truth is, I don't even drink. So if I go, I'll just be going to meet people and goof off.
Shelby: Thanks for visiting!
Hotpinksox: Come and visit us. Then you can miss it more :-)
SF is on my list of places to go, for sure.
I've kind of already been, we drove through on our way from LA up to Seattle when I ws 18, but we didn't stop other than for my Dad to take some pictures from the bridge.
It looks like there are a lot of good places to eat, which is so hugely important for a little pig like me!
Oh you make me want to go so much!
Cate: It's quote common for visitors to become permanent residents here. One of my best friends came here for a 2-week stop over. That was six years ago. She's still here. Be forewarned. :-)
That was such a lovely letter to SF. I must come and visit!
A great post about a fantastic city.
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