Christmas in San Francisco

My parents and I arrived into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Christmas afternoon at around 2 p.m. It was around 50 degrees and clear and just generally beautiful to watch the skyline of the financial district emerge as my brother drove us into the city on 101 from the south.

We dropped off my parents at the flat their renting for the week up here in Russian Hill, a polished-looking but unpretentious part of the city that my brother, Adam, has lived in for almost a year now.

Adam and I picked up some food for dinner at a corner store that stayed open despite the holiday. Or, I should say, we picked up the side dishes. My dad actually hauled a Honey Ham in his carry-on bag for the 3,000 mile-plus plane ride that made the TSA folks at Logan sort of scratch their heads and laugh when it went through the surveillance machines. A heavyset guy walked to the end of the belt, where my dad was putting his shoes back on, and said, "Is that a ham in your bag?" And my dad responded that it indeed was, and the guy just chuckled and said he'd "seen it all."

In the evening, the four of us ate dinner at Adam's apartment and we drank some local beers brewed in Berkeley called Trumer Pilsner. After my parents left around 8, Adam and I grabbed a couple more beers and poured them into indiscreet-looking yellow party cups and walked through Sterling park, which is a small hill a few blocks from his apartment on Larkin Street. It has a nice view of the city. We then walked down Larkin further (which becomes so steep it requires steps) to the water and to the Golden Gate National Recreation Park. We sat on the cold stone steps of the Aquatic arena, which overlooks the water and in the distance, the Golden Gate Bridge. As we sat there and talked and sipped on some more beer, Adam noted that the sight of the Golden Gate "never gets old." I could see why. It was lit up and looked warm against the cold purple evening clouds that were coming in off the bay and slowing enveloping the hills of San Francisco.

Today, I went for a run down in the same area by the water. It was clear and crisp outside. I ran out to this point that curled around the Aquatic Arena and overlooked the Golden Gate from a similiar angle as I'd seen the night before. I think, at that moment, a feeling of renewal overcame me. During the past few weeks, with work and everything else going on, I had barely exercised at all. It was only in the low forties this morning, so it was cool, and I could feel my lungs work through the cold air as I ran along. It felt good as I ran along the water, back up Larkin (and the steps!) and back to my brother's for breakfast.

This afternoon, my mom, appalled by the state of my hair and "scraggly" beard, is taking me to this swanky barbershop to get a beard grooming and haircut. Afterward, I hope to go down to second street and see where my new office will be.

More posts to come.