My first Labor Day in the city. Actually, everyday before May 13 will be my first of that day here. I’ve been resting up from my illness, but I did my best to recreate the spirit of Labor Day. I walked down to the grocery, walking past the sounds of Martin, Medeski, & Wood at the Slow Food festival. I returned to whip up my bbq for one: cheesy hashbrowns, corn on the cob, and some grilled brats on the George Foreman. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize I needed milk to make my intended dessert, but no fear, because I had some ice cream.

When I returned from my grocery trip, I saw a bundle of “Northside San Francisco” papers on my doorstep, so I grabbed one. It enlightened me to some upcoming fun times in the city. Free guided city walks were one of those things. I have put a bunch of them on my calendar for the next 2 months. While I was exploring the site, I happened across some news broadcasts featuring city guides. This story was especially interesting. As I was watching story after story and seeing images of old San Francisco, I realized how much I had embraced the history of my new home. This image I saw of South Park was hard for me to even accept as real. I walk to this area for lunch sometimes and it’s hard to grasp that it once looked like that. My hometown is definitely changing, but the pace at which it has grown apart from its historic roots has been slow and in some parts, almost non-existent. It’s strange to be in a city where the changes are much more drastic. But surprisingly, last night my dreams were overcome by images and unidentified references to my childhood friends and home, not of SF. Funny how the mind takes you back to the beginning.

Nevertheless, I have the same enthusiasm to share knowledge about SF’s history as I do about my family’s farm. That obsession has never really happened in any other place I’ve lived. I can’t help but wonder if it’s something special to SF or if the same might have happened in any city I moved to this far away from “home.” Hard to know, I suppose. Oh, I should note that I watched Curse of Alcatraz on hulu, which had a lot more impact with the actual prison no more than 2 miles away from where I sat. During some scenes, it may as well have been right outside my window. I’ve watched too many horror films. Makes me jumpy at night.

Anyway, I’m excited about all the history I shall be learning on these walking tours. I have tossed around the idea of taking the 6-month training course to become a guide if I enjoy it as much as I think I will. Other exciting events are Opera in the Park next weekend and Film in the Fog in a few weeks. They’re going to be showing An American in Paris. It’s been my dream to see an old film outside. I’m very excited!

I have some errands to run today, so it’ll be a nice excuse to get out and enjoy what seems to be a beautiful day. I’ll have to save my driving adventures for another weekend it seems. Luckily, I don’t have to worry about snow or bad weather rolling in soon, so there’s no deadline. I must say I miss the drive home to see my parents. It was always a nice excuse to hit the road…for the Labor Day bbq, for cruelers at the Covered Bridge Festival, and other lovely things that go unappreciated until they’re finally out of reach. I re-visited my other blog last night, and I need to be better about posting to it. I have plenty of scribbles on note paper. Maybe I’ll do that later today.