| Page Views: 1,478 Last Visit to San Francisco: May, 2007 I Visit Here Frequently | The City Of Love by Ciambella - last update: May 24, 2007 |
I did not leave my heart in San Francisco. In fact, I found it there.
Charles and I had known each other for years but only dated for a few months before we took a drive up the coast from Orange County where we both lived. I fell to sleep right after Thousand Oaks.
In spite of the beautiful scenery along the coast, most of us Californians would have driven up and down the entire coastal route at least a dozen times by the time we turned 30 or 40, so unless one is behind the wheel, it would be hard to keep one's eyes open for the more than 500-mile drive. In addition, I badly damaged my ankle the previous week and the pain still bothered me.
Thus, I slept and Charles drove. I missed all the beautiful sights but it was not a big deal, I had known them almost by heart.
After less than two hours walking on the streets of San Francisco, the pain became worse. We stopped at Chinatown Park for a brief rest.
This was years before the big beautification project when The City cleaned up all the parks, so of course this place was full of derelicts. However, the park's shabby looking denizens did not bother me as much as my ankle. I lay down on the bench to elevate my leg while Charles was wandering somewhere. I closed my eyes and felt the sun warm on my face.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Charles walking toward me laughing. I suddenly felt tight in my stomach and a strange thought entered my mind, something that did not make any sense whatsoever. Here I was, lying on a bench in a dirty public park surrounded by winos and society discards, the smell of cheap wine was in the air and my ankle was killing me, but I felt as if I just discovered the meaning of happiness. Why?
I looked at Charles and knew it. This was the man who made me laugh and feel happy. The circumstance did not matter, when I was with him, I was happy.
The rest, as they said, was history.
From that day on, we went back to San Francisco very often, on the average of five or six times a year. San Francisco was "our" city. San Francisco was our love. A couple of years later, we held our wedding in San Francisco -- naturally.
I did not leave my heart in San Francisco. I found it there. |
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 Comments for Ciambella about San Francisco | | | | |
heryanta Fri Nov 16, 2007 19:36 UTC
FANTASTIC review of the Mandarin Oriental; I am trying to decide between them and the St. Regis- your review was very helpful. | SFHulaGIrl Tue May 15, 2007 16:19 UTC
I work on an upper floor of Embarcadero Four & we have a wonderful view of the fountain, the Ferry Building & the Oakland Bay Bridge. It's true -- there's an ice skating rink from right before Thanksgiving to about New Year's or thereabouts. | gilabrand Mon Feb 20, 2006 06:33 UTC
More inspiration! Loved this story of finding a life's partner. | Callavetta Wed Jan 25, 2006 23:25 UTC
What a great story! I hope next time you do come to SF I will be able to meet you for coffee or a drink. |
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