Journey to my destiny...

Has it only been three days since my last post? So much has happened, where do I begin? Well, the rain came. I am grateful for the 5 days I got here without rain... very nice. And I am grateful for the rain. Why? Because it may be what just changed my life. Allow me to explain...
I was going hiking Wednesday and yesterday (Thursday). Instead, I ended up on the MUNI Wednesday morning, heading somewhere... maybe the museum? Maybe Nob Hill? I cannot recall. I ended up talking to a nice lady about my life and direction and what I am doing in the city, how I hope to move here one day. She asked what I hope to do, and I gave her a board overview of my interests, mostly about Native American Health. She says "you know the Native American AIDS Project is right by my job?" I said, "well, no, I didn't know... can I follow you?" So off I go, to work with this lady, she drops me off downstairs at NAP (Native AIDS Project.) I walk in, a bit nervous, thinking they are going to question this white girl walking in. I have tribal affiliation, yes, but I look VERY white-girl. However, it was quite the opposite. It was a connection of the souls upon first meeting. This very gentle woman, Gayle, would end up helping me tremendously today. But back to Wednesday...
I walk in, explain who I am, who I work with, and what I hope to do... the center instantly knows some of the professors I have learned from, one in particular who was recently lecturing at my College and gave us much wisdom and guidance. I now see how my meeting with one woman from the state of Washington (met her in Tampa) is now connecting me to a group of people here in California. I love that. Back to my day- I meet the director of NAP, and a case manager from the Native American Health Center, Laura. She lets me follow her back to her office. I go there and meet other people and spend the rest of the day volunteering. Yesterday, I go back to that center, participate in an amazing talking circle, attend a graduation at the Friendship House (Treatment Center), and speak with the director of the SF health center, along with being asked for my resume.
Then comes today... I was invited by Gayle (remember her?) to Oakland for beading circle. Let me say, I am not a beader, and after today- I do not know that I will be a beader until I learn more patience. But it was an experience. And I am grateful.
After beading, Gayle asks if I have time to meet with a project director and go upstairs to the media center. It turns out this health center in Oakland has state of the art workings of everything I am in to- photovoice, digital storytelling, community based participatory research, all with natives! PERFECT! I believe walking up those stairs was love at first sight... with my future.
I do not wish to speak too soon on the other details of where these random encounters are leading... but there will be many big changes in the near future for me. I am completely honored, humbled, and grateful to the Spirit of the Universe for these connections, this fate, my destiny.
It appears listening to that inner voice, following that guide, and yes, talking to "strangers" all pay off in the long run... from going to a meeting I wasn't feeling up to attending months ago in Tampa, to quitting one appointment at USF which gave me more time to spend in my current appointment, to refraining from hiking in the rain, to following a stranger off the bus, to following a new friend, volunteering, to waking up and going to Oakland when it was raining and I was tired... many, many more, but you get the idea.
Grateful heart
DBear

Land's End... where my world began...

I have no clue what day this is... 5, 6, I lost count at 3... This city has completed me. I don't know where I left off, what to catch up on, I just know I've found my heart, my city, this is the one... Have you felt that way? Where you stepped in to your dreams, knew it's where you belonged, the city by the bay....

Ahh, Still loving San Francisco. I think the highlight of the trip so far has been Land's End. Golden Gate Park is amazing as well, I'm only two blocks from there... I was able to get some wonderful shots of nature at her finest, Mother Earth is so good to me... At Land's End, I met a photographer friend... we climbed in to the restricted zone and took more beautiful shots. I did not know her, do not know her name, but our souls were the same... we are both completely and utterly in love with this city, the city by the bay. Later, we parted ways, I went to hike solo, the way I typically like it. I feel like I could trek the coastal trail for days, sit at Land's End and write, write, write, shoot, shoot, shoot (photos, that is)... live life this way.

My other high lights included Castro.. there are no words. The openness and acceptance of all things queer is truly beautiful. The city where people let others be who they are, no judgment, no hostility, just let people be.

Next was China Town... could have taken it or left it... it took an umbrella, a sweater, and money from me on that day. (The umbrella and sweater were lost, the money was willingly given up for sweet gifts and goods to send home)

The food in this city gets better with each meal. I wondered how people were not obese here... then I walked about 38 miles in 5 days.. that's how :) Up hill, down hill, morning, noon, and night... I wouldn't change it for the world, the city is completely pleasing with all of it's sights.

There's so much more to share, I'll save for another day, for now I will get back to enjoying the city by the bay..

Day 3- She loves to laugh, she loves to sing, she does everything...

Yes, I think Journey's songs are about me. I have kept my iPod on their playlist this trip, as it just seems right. I can feel the passion as I walk through the beautiful streets of this city by the bay. Passion isn't a strong enough word. I belong here. More on that in another blog...
Today's recap... I started out making a left out of the drive way instead of a right... I confused directions to Moraga steps (10 blocks that way) with the direction of the Golden Gate park (2 blocks the other way). I walked "that way" and when I got about 5 blocks in, I realized that could not be right. Un-luckily for me, this whole trek was up a massively steep hill. Luckily for me, I eventually took a rest and went to an amazing place called Donut World for a ham and cheese croissant. Amazing. The ham and cheese was baked in to the croissant... I guess that's how a "real" one is made. After that, I found a group of friends for an hour (my FOB know what I mean...) Going to see more of them in Castro tomorrow.
I finally made it to Golden Gate, but only strolled through the botanical gardens and over to de Young. Good thing I am only two blocks away, I can go back when my feet are not dying. Speaking of which, I have walked 32,355 steps, translating in to 12.7 miles. That's insane. But worth every single step. 
My reward came in the form of this place called relaxed feet. At first, I thought it was no big deal, maybe a nice foot rub with a chair massage. I surely underestimated this. It was a mix between reflexology, a pedicure, and a fully-clothed full body massage. For only $25 an hour. Literally heaven for my tired body. 
Try it.
There's more to tell and pictures to load, but more will come in time. For now, I will sleep. (Speaking of which, I have been sleeping like I've never slept before- going right to sleep, not waking up with ear pain, feeling rested- Amazing. Truly.)
FLY <3

Day 2- And the sun shines on the bay...

Today, I learned the priceless value of google maps on the iPhone. For about a week before making my pilgrimage, I was worrying about the transportation, from the Bart to the Muni to the CalTrain to aggghhhh. (Originally, I thought San Francisco only had a transit system known as Bart. When I realized there was more than this Bart thing, I panicked). Luckily for me, I have a smart phone that is actually living up to it’s smartness. Who knew you could hit the little “bus” in between the walking man and the car, and poof, here are your exact routes, walking distance to such routes, updated departure times, etc. Yes, I have happily received this manna from Heaven and will be utilizing this throughout my trip to SF. I am definitely not in Florida anymore, where the only method of transportation is car.

So I began my day in awe of google maps, and my awe continued in to the ease of mass transit, the beauty of every part of this city, the eclectic-ness of this city, friendliness of residents and (most) tourists, and so on. I did miss my stop once on the Muni, luckily the next stop was only a ¼ mile from where I intended to go. This was at Pier 33 and Pier 39. I arrived at Pier 39 and decided to take some lovely pictures while there as well as pick up my City Pass. Another fabulous feature of my journey: City Pass… It gives me 7 days on Muni, entrance to 5 museums, and a bay cruise for only $63 (usually $69, but discounted rate because I have a citi card). I have yet to go to the museums or cruise, but I did visit Alcatraz today and came back to stroll Pier 39. I cannot even explain how cool both are. I enjoyed Pier 39 more than Alcatraz. I will definitely go for a return visit.

After 7 hours, 13,760 steps, 5.30 miles, I was ready to return to Inner Sunset. Instead, a friend and former supervisor took me to dinner (I would not take this back at all, worth every bit of time and distance). We went to what is known as the best Thai food in SF. Surely, I have nothing to compare this to, but Koh Samui & The Monkey is the best Thai place I have been to in my life. Highly recommended to all. I had scallops with bak choy, yellow curry, sticky rice… NOM. Amazing.

Speaking of food, I did not have the pleasure of writing about last night’s meal, my first in San Francisco. (That is one thing about this journey, there will be much talk of food… it’s definitely a foodie city… actually, I could write a whole blog on this alone) Last night’s fine dining was Park Chow. Biano pizza—white pizza, sunchokes, cauliflower, leeks, oh my. That wasn’t even the best part. Yes, you guessed it, dessert! I was curious about this ginger cake. It sounded odd, but the pumpkin ice cream on the side drew my attention. It was like ginger bread, but almost fried, with crispy edges, pumpkin ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce. Whoa. Best dessert I can recall ever having. In my life. (Sorry, mom, you’re cooking/baking is great, but whoa) So that was my first night and San Francisco. And tonight was my second. Definitely the best city for all things food.

Also, the best city for photography, more on that later. For now, I am going to soak my soreness, and have a movie night with friends.

Day 2- a success. 

Journey to my heart, Day 1

Getting to San Francisco was definitely quite the journey. I realized I only had an hour layover the at Dulles (DC), so I happily paid the $39 to upgrade to a seat closer to the exit lane of the airplane. Little did I know that the hour layover I thought I would have turned in to a 2 minute layover. The whole flight was filled with tense people who all had connecting flights leaving less than 20 minutes after our approximate landing time. The poor flight attendants. Luckily, I have a way of persuading people to do what I want/need them to do… more on that later. So far, I have met a very sweet elderly lady who is visiting her brother and family in DC (she lives in Tampa), a family of five from plantation Florida… all of the kids are foster or adopted (their destination is Adriondaks), a very chatty retiree from Crystal River who is headed to visit her daughter and grandbabies in upstate NY, and the coolest flight attendant named Omar… I will call him Ernesto, don’t ask me why… maybe because he looks like an Ernesto? 

Those who know me know I never meet a stranger. This has proven to be true for this trip as well. Ernesto treated me to first class service, including the meal they give to first class travelers (I was flying in Economy Plus… United Air… highly recommended IF you MUST fly United!), and he kept checking on me to make sure I was okay. He also asked me numerous times if I wanted free drinks. At first, I thought he meant diet coke or water. Then, I remembered… normal people drink. He said “no rum? What about wine? Vodka?” handed me a whole bottle of each as I was eating my meal in the flight attendant’s quarters. Grateful I stayed sober, as I needed every bit of clarity to make my connecting flight. 

Speaking of clarity, it helped immensely... Let me go back to my point of persuasion persuasion… I went to each and every person sitting on the front row until I found one who did not mind trading with me upon descending. She was a large woman, needed the room, but was happy to oblige. I then was able to use the flight attendent’s space to store my luggage and make my get-away upon landing. (During this time, I also met another woman taking her family to Rome via Munich… she works in the medical field; and a nice gentleman who is a healthcare consultant for a private firm) I love meeting new people. Clearly. 

Upon landing, I made my getaway… luckily, the boarding gate for San Francisco was directly next to the arrival gate from Tampa… Whew! When I got there, I was none too pleased. My seat had been given away, and all overhead storage space was being utilized. I received a free checked bag, and promptly had the individual removed from my aisle seat… after all, I am claustrophobic and need the room. So here I am, in the sky, waiting for SF… 5 hours to go. Looking forward to an amazing 10 days.

Fly

I must add an addendum... 

Upon finally arriving in San Francisco, I automatically breathed this breath of relief, inexplicable peace, and felt this instant "I am home" feeling.... before I even reached baggage claim. I have never felt such, and am soaking it up... More to come in the days that follow...

P.S. If you are ever at "Park Chow" in SF, do yourself the most amazing treat with the Ginger Cake (comes with pumpkin ice cream and caramel). I know, it sounds odd, but it's the best dessert I've ever tasted... and I have a devlish sweet tooth at times. Do it.