Current knitting

My friend Celeste reminded me that I haven't shared anything about my knitting lately. So here goes. I have four projects on the needles. The one I've taken a picture of is the back of a vest that I've been doing. It is made of a bamboo and wool blend and, despite the picture is navy blue. It was my first attempt at cabling, notice the cable pattern. I'm also working on a scarf with cables in it, I've been working on a shawl that's somewhat lacy, and I always have a pair of socks going. I'll save pictures for later.

Poverty in the Tenderloin

Many of my experiences in San Francisco have created opportunities for me to reflect on what I do, who I am and in some ways my purpose. The first time I stumbled upon the Tenderloin, only when I saw the "Tenderloin Police Substation" did I realize where I was. The second time was a more purposeful walk through that neighborhood. It is a neighborhood characterized by crime, drug use, and incredible poverty. I walked by several different street front service agencies that were designed to provide crisis relief, including some of the programs from Glide Memorial. The destitution I saw was overwhelming. Visible mental illness, visible substance abuse, visible prostitution, and constant panhandling. One thing that struck me were hands. Not only were they outstreatched for help, but the hands of the people along the street were red, swollen, and the cuticles were mostly black from ground in dirt (all of this visible from three to five feet away). These hands reflected weariness.

The number of street and homeless people I saw throughout the city was simply too much. We have nothing like this in Wake, Durham or Orange Counties of North Carolina. We think we have a problem with homelessness and poverty, but the sheer numbers of individuals who are on the streets in San Francisco is saddening. I remember tears welling up in my eyes as I watched the United Way video at the meeting I was attending that focused on the success of a local San Francisco family and wondered how many folks were on the street who weren't so lucky.

I wonder if I'm doing the work I'm supposed to do?

Gay and growing old

At the top of Castro Street sits one of the oldest bars in town, Twin Peaks. It is a lovely bar and as you walk by it is full of men in their 60s and 70s. It has a friendly atmosphere, but clearly is a "neighborhood" bar. One morning I was reading the "gay rag" and saw a couple of advertisements for retirement centers targeting the lesbian and gay community. I know, I'm only 43, but gosh, retirement is not that far away. You know, Carol Woods, here in Chapel Hill is a lovely place, but I've no desire to end up somewhere that is that "straight." Its interesting to think about growing old, I have no children, my family is one that is not of blood, but of friends who love me. Yet, will those same friends grow old in community with me? I don't know.

Labyrnth at Grace Cathedral

While at Grace Cathedral I walked the outdoor labyrnth one morning. The energy of a pattern on the earth that has been walked over and over is amazing, couple that with the fact that it is on a sacred site and atop Nob Hill in San Francisco and it truly is a power point in the city of San Francisco. One of the things that really struck me as I walked into the center was the difference between the 6 rosettes in the center of a Charte labyrnth and the single center in a 7 circuit Cretan labyrnth. One of my teachers at some point described the difference as one related to history and the changing status of the realms. The Cretan labyrnth emerged at a time when all the realms were one. The Christian version of the labyrnth emerged during a time when the realms were now separate. Those realms are the stone, plant, animal, human, ferry and the divine realms. It is a lovely thing to think about and imagine. As I walked the Grace Cathedral labyrnth resting in the center, I took the time to connec with all. For me, the stone realm is a dangerous realm. Stones just suck me in. If I'm in a place where there are big rocks. It is so easy for me to lay on them, touch them, hold them and I so want to slow to their pace. Plants on the other hand are still a curious element to me and full of wonder, along with the animal realms. They ferry realms and divine realms are certainly otherworldly and that is amazing to me. Standing in each of them in this place of power seemed to amplify the connections despite the fact that there may not have been as visible a connection to these realms as one would find out in nature on a forest walk. Yet the power of the labyrnth and its ability to amplify the connection was notable.

The highlights of the trip

This is only the second time I've been to San Francisco, and for all practical purposes the first time I've really had a chance to visit the city. The first time I visited I only stayed for a day or two and that just wasn't enough to enjoy the city. I arrived on Tuesday the 10th of July and went to the hotel where the UW meeting was the Westin St. Francis, right across from Union Square. On Wednesday morning, I woke up early and hopped on the cable car that ran right in front of the hotel and rode it to the end. The cable car was virtually empty at 6:30 am and the views as you topped some of the hills in San Francisco were amazing. I rode back to the top of Nob Hill and got off to go to Grace Cathedral and walk the labyrnth. The meeting started Wednesday afternoon and I didn't have much time to do any sort of walking around the city. One of the evening receptions was at the Asian Art Museum and the portions of the museum that were open to us were nice.

On Friday, I left the Westin and went to the Willows Inn, a lovely gay B&B.  I had some time that afternoon so I went up the street (up being the operative word) to Buena Vista Park. From there I watched the fog roll in, the pictures I have are OK, as there is nothing like the real experience.

Saturday, off to Marin County to visit with my friend Urania and her partner Luann. I took the ferry from the end of Market Street to Larkspur. While waiting on the ferry I enjoyed a local farmer's market.  We went to Point Reyes and managed to see Tule Elk along the way.

Sunday I spent the day with Cypress and we went to Muir Woods National Monument and talked with the Redwood Trees, layed on the beach at Stinson Beach, and spent the evening touring Oakland and Berkely.

Monday was China Town, a visit to Imagiknits, and knitting night at the Lesbian and Gay Community Center.

Tuesday I headed to the Japanese Tea Garden (see the link for Golden Gate Park), Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park as a whole.

There were many great meals, mostly in the Castro and lots of walking through various neighborhoods. Some of the following posts will talk about the magic that I experienced, the challenges of the poverty and destitution in the Tenderloin, and thinking about what it would be like to be an old, gay man.