After going thru the Western Addition I continued down Fillmore all the way to Pacific Heights. When I got to Washington St. I turned down the street because the trees looked so beautiful.

That’s the way I like to choose where to go, walk to the end of a street and then choose the most inviting direction.

Anyways, I walked up the hill into Alta Plaza park and started walking towards a bench where this young woman was sitting. She was holding a pen and a notebook.

I sat down at the other end of the bench and breathed in the trees and the sunshine. Then I looked over at her and said, “Hi!”

I scanned the park and watched the wind blow thru the leaves of the trees as they danced together. They were framed in rows leading out to a breathtaking view overlooking the city. When I looked back at her she was smiling and she said, “Do you work in this neighborhood?”

“Sort of. I take pictures on the street all around the city so today…yes. Do you work around here?”

“Yeah, I’m on my break.”

“What are you writing about?”

“Well, I was about to start writing like stream of consciousness stuff, but it’s cool that you talked to me because I’m sure it’ll be better than whatever I write.”

“Don’t say that. I journal every morning, or most mornings anyways, and it’s important to get stuff out. To see your patterns. And you don’t have to judge the stuff you write, you just write it.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“What kind of art do you make?”

“How’d you know I was an artist?”

“Because I’m an artist.”

“I paint and do some print making.”

“That’s cool.”

“I get kinda weary with it sometimes though, you always have to try and sell things.”

“That’s why people come to San Francisco, or cities in general, to buy and sell things. But that’s just one dimension of San Francisco. Here, put these glasses on.”

“I was wondering what those were.”

She puts them on…

“Whoa! This is so cool. Where did you get these?”

“Jesus gave them to me. They’re magic. So like I was saying, there are lots of dimensions to San Francisco.”

“I know, I think I’m just on my break at work.”

“I feel you.”

Well, I’m gonna start heading back that way.“

"Ok, what’s one of your favorite things about San Francisco?”

“I like how diverse it is, and how so much stuff is going on, and the capacity for change and growth that you have. And how you can be in one neighborhood and walk one block over and be in another neighborhood. Now, when I go other places it’s weird.”

“Yep, the longer you live here the more you feel that way.”

“But sometimes I get sick of it too.”

“For sure, life moves so fast here and you gotta have time to process stuff too. What’s your name?”

“Jessica.”

“I’m Garry.”

“Well…thanks for changing up my day.”

“It was my pleasure.”