Remembering San Francisco

I guess I officially left in October 2003, while I came back one month later, I spent the next few months selling and moving my essential belongings to Jamestown. I left for Paris on March 13, 2004 and returned some 8 months later only to find I had permanently moved to Jamestown.

Somehow I always thought San Francisco would be there for me but with Mark moving to Manhattan there was no place left for me to hang my hat, as it were. While I did return to the City a handful of times, in December of 2004, AMTRAK, in conjunction with Greyhound eliminated service between Sonora and Modesto leaving me stranded on the Western Side of the Sierra's with no way back to gay! I failed to mention, Dad's old Taurus blew a gasket in October, leaving him without a vehicle and me with no one to borrow.

Now while I have quite a few thoughts on the discussion of public transportation, private transportation and a way out of these backward little enclaves in the Sierra's, I won't get into that at this time. It is certainly a good topic, one worthy of further emaciation.

In any event, lately I've felt quite disconnected. I had my first and only visitor last month (some 4 years later). I also felt the need to pursue the purchasing of a vehicle in the near future. With that, only freedom can ensue. Think of the many places I can go. Berkeley, San Francisco, hell, I might even venture all the way into Modesto. I purchased my first car when I was 16 and this is the longest I've ever been without one. In the meantime, I will dream of talking on "hands free" equipment, listening to wonderful radio music while falling asleep at the wheel, playing with a sweet little Betsey Navigator, and enjoying the benefits of having a heater and defroster which actually clears the windows. (Unfortunately, the $500 Oldsmobile I found for Dad had none of these amenities yet continues to run on, quite well, at 235,000 miles). Blessings can even come in the shape of old white Oldsmobiles I guess.

So with that thought, I will continue to begin reading the "pink section" of the San Francisco Chronicle on Sundays and checking the Obit section of the Bay Area Reporter to cross off the names in my address book and look forward to one day rejoining the society of human beings I once was associated with..if any are left.