So, against Karen's better judgment, I dragged the kids to Haight Street under the guise of heading down to Golden Gate Park for a picnic and a Carrousel (misspelling intended) ride. They traveled beautifully, considering the fact that we walked about 4 miles a piece today...The Haight/ Ashbury area is played out, unfortunately. I'm sure for the inhabitants of the neighborhood there is a depth that the tourist does not see. I'm cool with the smoke shops and the record stores. That's their bread&butter. The transient people are also understandable: the climate is perfect for surviving... There's a lot of people coming through every day to drop change in your cup, and with Golden Gate Park, there are a lot of places to hang out and sleep and do whatever. As a destination, all it really has to offer is retail shops and proximity to the Park.
On the other hand, the people are the friendliest I've encountered since I've been to California. Karen says that I attract the funny ones - those of you who have known me for my life can probably attest to that... I don't know. I just talk to those I talk to; I feel akin to some people who my normal group of friends may question. Today was no exception.
In the first store we popped our heads into, I was given the privilege of viewing one of Bruce Springsteen's first club performances (allegedly) which had just arrived to the store on a bootleg DVD that morning. Then, we ventured to the Haight/ Ashbury music store, where I picked up an expensive Jerry Garcia guitar pick ($.99 - but, THAT'S expensive for a guitar pick!), three picks with the name of the store etched onto them, and a bottleneck slide for my guitar. I was a happy daddy.
The next store we went into was the Dr. Martins store. I am still wearing a pair of Docs I had when Karen and I were first married. They're beat to hell, but they remain in decent shape, and I was hoping to get a new set of laces today. We walked into the store, and I immediately went over to the saddle shoes and told the kids the story of my wedding, and how I chose to wear those shoes when I married their mommy. They were not impressed, but the sales woman seemed to be. The kids chose the rainbow-colored boot laces for me, and she informed me that they were in on promotion, and that I could take them for free. Karen still does not believe this story. She thinks I turned on my wily charm and sex appeal and conned them out of this poor woman. I'd like to think that I still got it (if I ever had "it" in the first place), but I honestly think that the a guy walking into the store with four kids and telling them the story of his wedding did it. Whichever. Works for me.
We then schooched quickly to Golden Gate Park because we were all getting famished quickly. We walked a bit out of our way to find the playground and antique carousel, but we made it and ate our lunches passionately and quietly. Very shortly after the sugar and carbs kicked in, the kids dashed to the playground and made use of the slide carved into the rock of the adjacent hill. They had the times of their lives (I'd like to think individually, but I'm probably overemphasizing the experience for one or two of my children; however, I feel that I'd being lying if I just wrote it collectively. Eh, I'm debating with myself on a cliche, anyhow... ), and must have spent an hour and a half at this slide. It was definitely the highlight of their trip today.
Everywhere I read about the Haight/ Ashbury area talks about the homeless and transient people, and it has its share, but the park has far more. The kids really got to see a side of San Francisco that they haven't really had the opportunity to experience. Jacob, of course, asks why I can't give money to every single person we see who asks for it, and I adore him for it. It's hard finding a reason why to explain to him and his siblings. Every person we met today who was not incoherent or strung out was friendly and charming, many were very talented; some simply had a guitar and the tenacity to scream out the lyrics to random Carpenters tunes.
Overall, it was a good and tiring day. The kids ate well, and I had some time to unwind and have a few beers and write.
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