So it has been a while since I have written in my blog. Many things have happened that have been exciting in my life and those I will get to eventually, but as I was sitting here trying to figure out where to start, I decided that I was going to dedicate this entry to the people in San Francisco that might not have known they have made an impact on me...
There are many walks of life on the streets of San Francisco. People that range in age, race, and culture. They all have different pasts and different futures. The same person who owns a Range Rover and carries a Hermes handbag can walk the same steps on the street seconds after a woman the same age will beg you for change because she has nothing to eat at night.
There are a few people that I come across from time to time that I have found myself wondering where there story began and how it will end.
One of them I would like to call "The Woman of a Different Color" - Imagine walking to work in the morning and being excited to see someone. Now many may have a favorite co-worker they work with or maybe a cute receptionist they are looking forward to grabbing their morning coffee with. "The Woman of A Different Color" is mine. She is a dainty little thing, about 70 I would say. She sits every morning under the Jewish contemporary building and reads the morning paper. Why is this interesting do you ask... well let me introduce you as to why I have given her, her name....
Every morning she sits and reads the paper, she is dressed to the nines. Now I don't mean in Prada fashion and nine inch heels, I don't believe she could ever afford them. This is much better. She dresses in her finest scarf, hat, and costume jewelry and every day she picks a different color to show off. Mondays she typically goes with blue, while Tuesday and Wednesday are usually purple and green. My personal favorite is a day that she must be indecisive and decides to wear a little bit of each. She is fantastic. I haven't ever spoken to her to get her story, but I like to imagine that she used to be a painter and that is why she loves color so much.
Another one of my personal favorites that I have run across numerous times is someone I like to call "Old Mr. Tune." "Old Mr. Tune" is this little old man that stands at the exit way as I get off the Muni in the morning. He plays the most adorable trombone and accordion. Usually he is playing something sad, which would normally make me sad as well, but there is almost something romantic about it. I like to imagine that he is playing to his long lost love & plays all her old favorite songs. Perhaps he is waiting for her to come back or perhaps he plays to her spirit. I am not sure but he always gets to me and pulls at my heart strings. - Must be the hopeless romantic in me. Usually if I have a dollar... he is the one who gets it.
Last but not least, I want to end with my favorite character of SF. I like to call him "Drummer Man." He is usually found rocking out on the streets after I get off of work. "Old Mr. Tune" gets me on the way in, while "Drummer Man" leads me onto my quest home. He is a happy fellow and clearly loves his life. He is one of the most talented drummers there is no doubt. I am certain he could hang with any professional drummer and even teach them a thing or two. He doesn't need a fancy drum set or a set of amplifiers, just a plastic bucket and a set of drum sticks. He lights up the streets every night and sends people on their way with his catchy jingles and taps of his drums. He has so much energy and spirit it is contagious. Sometimes you will even find that people will stop right on the street and begin dancing to his beats. He has so much fun doing what he does, I bet that man would never know that he is homeless unless you pointed it out to him.
For many reasons these people deserve to be pointed out. They may be looked over or maybe looked at for their talent, but for whatever reason I have noticed them. They are people that I have found myself thinking about and wanting to know their story. So if you take anything from this entry maybe it should be to notice little things about people. Allow yourself to be inspired. Find someone who may not have the same opportunities as you and figure out what they are doing to make themselves happy... because if people can find pure joy out of having little... then think of what you are capable of when you have so much!
