On a bus ride back from a day's ride around Golden Gate Park, an older man (M) (over 60) with a pony tail got on at Haight Street and took a seat beside Fiona (F). The boys looked on wide eyed as this conversation unfolded:
M: You're not from around here are ya. New Zealand or Australia.
F: Australia. We've only had a couple of days in San Francisco.
M: The thing about leaving San Francisco, is that you miss your daily dose of weirdness. Here, it's all so close - you can get it every day. It's a shame you ain't here in the first week of June for the Haight Street Fair - that's FULL of weirdness!!
F: How long have you lived in San Francisco?
M: 46 years. I came here as a draft dodger during the Vietnam War. The place was full of anti-war protesters then and I just never got around to leaving. I got by from making smoking pipes out of chickens feet - a bit of a cottage industry. I called one of the pipes 'The Three Fingered Salute' and another one 'World by the Balls'.
The bloke then went on to tell us how he'd been knifed as a cabbie (showed us the scar) and wished us all a good stay as he left the bus. An enlightening encounter with one of San Francisco's finest.
You seem to be meeting plenty of interesting characters. Love reading about them
ReplyDeleteThere's no shortage of 'down and outers' over here, asking for spare change or some money for a meal. It's pretty in your face, particularly when you're using public transport or coming out of chain shops like Starbucks. At least most of them are not shy for a chat!
ReplyDeleteAmusing interludes with the locals. Hope the craziness doesn't rub off!
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