san fran with soph

 I know this happened 13 days ago already (how did that happen?!), but it was such an adventure, I wanted to post it anyway. The passing of 13 days has altered my memory of the experience already--forgotten is the circling of Oakland city center trying to find the BART station parking, the slight panic (in my mind at least, Soph was calm as a cucumber) when the trolley stopped & didn't appear like it was going to be moving anytime soon in a less than high-end neighborhood, the exhaustion of driving all. day. long. Nope, what I remember now is a day full of color & vibrance & smacking deliciously of life.

 Soph was the one that insisted we visit Chinatown, which really was fine by me. The sloping streets lined with red lanterns were like nowhere I'd ever been before. It was a barrage to the senses.  It was colorful & had this smell--kind of smoky & spicy. We shopped & drank some milk tea, observed the locals playing cards & chinese checkers in the park.

 In a city known for it's public transportation, Soph & I wanted to make sure we took full advantage. And did we (6 trolley rides later). I loved it though--sitting back, not worrying about missing my turn, being able to ogle the narrow houses wide enough only for a door & a window, a sudden surprising view from the crest of yet another hill--I have never been in such a undulating city! The hills, the webs of cable above the streets, the houses stairstepping. Sophie & I had a blast picking out the houses we liked best.

 We hit up a bakery I'd been salivating over for years. Shara had one of their cookbooks, & I almost felt like I was seeing a celebrity while we waited in line (yes, a line, it's that good) for our devil's food chiffon cake & lemon cream tart (which, if you are into that kind of thing, there's this reception coming up in a few weeks where I hear they are serving it...). Soph insisted on Chinatown, I insisted on Tartine.

 And of course, we wouldn't have really been to San Fran if we'd have missed this. It was much further from the city than I'd always imagined. Unfortunately, it was the end of a rather long day for both of us, and I don't think we got to enjoy it quite as much as we otherwise would've. I kept asking Sophie if she was done yet:) A little role reversal. But I'm still glad we got to see it, one more check on my bucketlist.

And then the day was over. It seems like when you leave a place like that, something more should happen than you just leaving the lights behind in the rearview mirror. Fireworks or a good five minute cry while something sad & full of violins plays in the background. I said goodbye to California without too much fuss. It was like the next chapter in my life had already begun (and really, it has, so I shouldn't be so confused) & this one just faded away into a memory that felt so far away & distant, it makes one question if it ever really happened. But I have the photos & a 10-year old girl who won't let me forget our little SanFran trip;). Thanks, Soph, for a lovely memory of a California city on my last day as a SoCal girl.

Now, I hope all of you who have been subtly telling me I need to update are satisfied:). (No hard feelings-it was high time.) And you will just have to be understanding the next 3 weeks because I plan on going through some life-altering events that seem to be sapping any brain power I might have had to begin with, leaving me with nothing but a rambling string of thoughts that involve 1)this guy 2)tart shells 3)whether or not I should bring this painting I have & 4)what I'm going to cook my man the first day we get back to Oregon in our (as yet) non-existant abode & bare fridge. He'll be fine eating out...right?