I learned today just how much I don’t know about the world.
Judith, Peggy, and I headed to the Haight-Ashbury district. I mean, hey… Gotta see what spawned the Grateful Dead and Charles Manson. Right? It was truly enlightening. I saw my first hookha. (I think that’s how you spell it.) My observation from what I now realize is a limited amount of life experience was that it looked like what the caterpillar was smoking in Alice in Wonderland. It took Judith a good five minutes to stop laughing.
We went into one fascinating store that carried everything I’d ever expect to find in Elton John’s closet. Holy smokes. There were fur bras. No, really. Fur. Bras. And headdresses like Cher used to wear to award shows. Mardi Gras masks. Earrings of every conceivable shape and size. Unfortunately, pictures were forbidden in the store. Alas. I would have loved to share some with you. I have never seen so many creative uses of marijuana leaves. They decorated everything from t-shirts to ashtrays to earrings. And there was tie-dye as far as the eye could see.
San Francisco people are amazing. Whether you’re looking at the natives or the tourists, they are truly a sight to behold. I seldom hear English unless I’m speaking it. Whenever I’ve had someone waiting on me, I’ve watched for nametags. How diverse! Not a Jim or Jane among them.
By the time we got back to the hotel, the RWA contingent had arrived. The line to check in extended all the way around the lobby. The official conference starts tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll have more adventures to share.
As always, click on the thumbnail pictures to enlarge.
Peggy and me at the famous Haight Ashbury intersection.
Judith and me in front of one of the many murals.
A sitar player on the street.
