Apr 15 2003

Departures

Published by at 11:49 am under Uncategorized

Beth and Cat are heading home today. And what a long, horrible journey it will be: airport shuttle bus from Petaluma to SFO (2+ hours); the interminable wait in line for security, check-in, etc., during which you have to remove any item of clothing deemed questionable – when I went to Boston, this was: my coat; my sweater; and my boots – (2+ hours); the wait at the gate, and then 11 fun-filled hours to London. Once they get to London, they still have to drive to their town in Leicestershire – yet another 2+ hours. Which makes it all the more impressive that Beth has done this no fewer than three times in the last 6 months.

Cat and I had a great day together last Friday. We shopped and lunched in North Beach, before turning our acquisitive attention to the shopping to be had in the Haight. Now, I’m not normally a big fan of the Haight. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I hate the Haight, but I have a low tolerance for faux hippies and grubbiness. However, the fabulousness of the shops made up for it.

I picked up an adorable glittery Marilyn backpack, while Cat got an embroidered black skirt with built-in crinoline. Further down the street, Cat picked up some perfect souvenirs, including exactly the kind of thing you’d think, and some you wouldn’t. I bought her the perfect shower curtain for her dorm room.

The shopping was educational, as well as fun. In the course of souvenir shopping, I learned:


  1. Candles last longer if you trim the wick every time before you use them.
  2. Southern Comfort is now available in Black Label, which is 100 proof and apparently not available in England, though absinthe is. Choose your poison, I guess (or have your government choose it for you).

We weren’t shopped out, but we had to go home and drop off our purchases before heading to Pier 39. The cats promised to take care of everything in exchange for being fed, which seemed like a reasonable deal. Usually they just eat and nap.

Unlike most people, we weren’t going to Pier 39 to shop. We were going to sail! My friend Chris, who has a sailboat and who lives aboard another boat at Pier 39, had offered to take us out for an afternoon sail on the Bay. It was a perfect, sunny afternoon, with just enough wind to send us skimming over the water. It’s a wonderful feeling of freedom, especially when you have a licensed captain doing all the work. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

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2 responses so far

2 Responses to “Departures”

  1. Amberon 15 Apr 2003 at 12:31 pm

    It sounds lovely!

  2. Adrian Sevitzon 15 Apr 2003 at 1:15 pm

    100 proof is just 50% ABV (in the USA). Southern Comfort may not export it here because of high taxes, but I doubt it’s illegal.

    Absinthe is a hallucinogenic which is why it may not be available everywhere. And can kill you in excess.