journal entry

-journal entry 2-25-03

went to the city today. feeling kind of nervous. not really sure if it was fear of confronting the agent question or something else. i was early so i fed the meter and then went to find something for myself. cut through jackson square to north beach. looking down at the sidewalk saw a marker imbedded in the concrete that said “barbary coast trail”. don’t think i’ve ever noticed them before unless they’re new.
i’m moving quicker through the people now, beginning to remember how to walk through the city. you have to show some attitude. like you know exactly where you’re going. even the way you point your feet. trying to remember where anything is anymore. so much has changed. at least clown alley is still there. I remember there are delicatessens up on columbus. perfect. I walk right past the strip clubs oblivious they are still there. weird. usually i observe something, if not the humor of the whole God forsaken situation. and for the first time in writing this I am amused that the automatic spellcheck hasn’t capitalized “god”, but changes the "me" in first person to an uppercase every time.
crossing columbus on vallejo I see a little white fiat 500 with a painting of the blessed virgin on the door. walking into molinari’s i realize i’ve arrived. i walk along the counter looking for the perfect street food like a calzone or pirozki. the only thing I find is a flaky bread with spinach in the middle that has a name i can’t pronounce and i end up pointing to it when the man behind the counter asks me what i’d like. i pay him with a five and request a couple bucks back in quarters so i can feed the meter later.
outside again. for the first time today i’m grooving. the sun is bright and warm even though it’s still february. my pace is quick and even and i don’t have to stop and wait for any of the lights to change on the way back down. this thing that i’m eating is delicious although i still can’t pronounce it. as i pass through the different groups of people standing or walking along the sidewalk i am amazed how many people still smoke in the city. i pass another barbary coast trail marker and am now wishing i brought my smokes.
as i cross the street i finish the thing and toss its wrapper away. i see my second honda cb of the day and realize everyone who parks a bike in the city backs it into the curb. ready to make a quick getaway.