You know you’re a local when the ladies at your neighborhood nail salon know your name and life story. You definitely belong when you religiously avoid Oak Street when driving to the freeway. And when you receive that sympathetic smile from the owner of the corner store as you purchase a carton of Ben and Jerry’s, you know you’ve arrived. That smile means he has put two and two together– you go in every month at the same time, in sweatpants and drop $6 for a pint of Late Night Snack. He always asks, “would you would like a bag?” As if I’m ashamed of buying ice cream alone on a Saturday night. I want to say, “hey buddy I am usually quite pleasant but you only see me in the “red-zone’”. I usually have a life”. And that life involves brunching. And only a seasoned San Franciscan knows that Union Street has the worst brunch in all the city. The Brixton, Unwind, Perry’s. Yuck. However few things make you feel more like a local than having your car towed. Welcome to San Francisco, we got you. Nevertheless, every time I return to this crazy city I think how good it feels to be home.
It’s no secret how much I loved my time at UW, but for some reason it never felt like home. Maybe it was the uncomfortable living arrangements in the sorority or the fact that I am just too damn close to my family, whatever the reason I always knew it was temporary. When I moved in January I wondered how long it would take to make a new home for myself. Since my gallbladder/partial lobotomy San Francisco has felt as comfortable as McBain Ave. I miss it when I am not here and when I am here I don’t want to leave. It’s home. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always miss hearing “Hi Roomie” from my dad upon entering the kitchen, sitting on the toilet while my mom puts on her makeup and the glow of Christmas lights through my bedroom window every December but now those are things I look forward to when I go to my parents’ on a visit.
Leaving is a part of life and somewhere inside of me never wanted to move out. There are some not so fun things about being an adult. Having you car towed, cleaning the bathroom and missing your mommy and daddy, 😉 just to name a few. But the great thing about moving on and moving out is creating a life independent of your family, even if you still talk to your mom every day. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to create my own path. .
And now I only occupy parking spots that could easily fit two cars.
I know you’re happy and that’s a good thing, BUT —————–I miss seing your smiling faceand just seeing you every couple of weeks isn’t enough for Big G.
I miss you too Grandma!!!