At almost 10 am, the streets of Haight Ashbury are slowly waking up. The sky is sapphire blue, bluer than any blue that I’ve seen before in this infamously foggy and overcast part of the city. The house was quiet when I left it this morning in search of a morning nook of inspiration that would do justice for this week’s happenings. After a short jaunt, I’ve found this mornings destination: Coffee to the People. 
What feels like a neighbourhood coffee intuition, the classic guitar riffs and slow harmonica chords that accompany the idealist lyrics of “blue skies” and “burning love” on the tunes overhead could only be one person: Dylan.
A distinct hippy feel, this coffee shop not only touts being “the best coffee in the Haight” but also mirrors the vibe, class struggle and passionate, almost angry consciousness that the souls that have, do and will continue to inhabit this neighbourhood.
Olivia, the early 20-something with the knitting needles in hands and 100 watt smile studies full time, and works almost full time at Scarlet Sage, the neighbourhood herbal shop on Valencia. Having attended the desert festival Burning Man as a child, a rare and unique experience for both child and parent, her mother is deeply wound into the world of recycling and waste management within the city and state.
A distinct hippy feel, this coffee shop not only touts being “the best coffee in the Haight” but also mirrors the vibe, class struggle and passionate, almost angry consciousness that the souls that have, do and will continue to inhabit this neighbourhood.
Today’s quote came quite clearly in the form of a bumper sticker preserved under many a layer of clear shellac on the peach coloured table to my right, although now temporarily inhabited by a man eating granola with soy milk, a glass of fresh organic OJ and on his Mac book browsing….Real estate? Yeah – I didn’t see that one coming either. Each table in the café, and there are almost 25 of them, are small collections of black and white images, articles and posters from times gone by reflecting the golden age and birth time of this neighbourhood: The 60’s & 70`s.
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress” came from the pen and lips of one of the most well-known social reformist in the US to document his time and escape from slavery: Frederick Douglass, as well as defend the suppressed rights for visual minorities and women during the 1800`s. Even 200 years later, his words are still chillingly relevant: from class consciousness to self discovery. Themes of justice, freedom, art, expression are still pumping through the veins of this ‘hood, but for me, the most striking aspect of my temporarily residence here has been in the culture and consciousness of the street people and artists (not necessarily mutually exclusive) of all kinds that paint, draw, strum, drum and beg for food or money with pride, respectively. Even the girl who is dressed in clean jeans and cotton shirt sitting against on the ground resting against a cardboard box, several sleeping bags, a guitar and backpacks outside the coffee shop is reading a novel by – Pablo Neruda, one of the Chile`s greatest gift to the world.
Passion is present in the Haight. Passion to live with freedom and as you choose in a loud and proud way. Being vocal about what you want, where you’re going, what you believe and how you want to go about doing so, is here. It’s raw and unapologetic and a great crystal to insert into the reflections, musings and contemplation of the Year of Passion.
Am staying with friends Lauren and Sean, a early 20-something couple who were brought together while studying abroad in Shanghai a couple years ago, and have since weathered the distance of her being in Buenos Aires and separate travels around the world. They have been subletting a room in a 2 bedroom, mainfloor apartment in an Edwardian Victorian home complete with a gorgeous marble signature San Francisco stoop perfect for morning, afternoon and nightly lounging and landlords that study drama therapy and theatre. 
The living room, my home for the past week and next 6 days, is like the suite of a museum of the Moulin Rouge. With a distinctly burlesque feel, the eclectic collection of antiques spanned the gamut including an antique baby grand piano, white painted fireplace, old black and white photos of seemingly unrelated people, a vintage seamstresses mannequin made from canvas, `wearing` a black top hat and lace vintage dress, framed posters of Italian films from the 60s, and Asian masks and sun umbrellas on the oversized mantel. All this, AND a large and overstuffed couch which has made a wonderful resting spot for my mind, body and soul as this transition continues as I remain `between`leases before leaving for India :)
The living room, my home for the past week and next 6 days, is like the suite of a museum of the Moulin Rouge. With a distinctly burlesque feel, the eclectic collection of antiques spanned the gamut including an antique baby grand piano, white painted fireplace, old black and white photos of seemingly unrelated people, a vintage seamstresses mannequin made from canvas, `wearing` a black top hat and lace vintage dress, framed posters of Italian films from the 60s, and Asian masks and sun umbrellas on the oversized mantel. All this, AND a large and overstuffed couch which has made a wonderful resting spot for my mind, body and soul as this transition continues as I remain `between`leases before leaving for India :)Last weekend was a beautiful goodbye to my Mission oasis, Saturday was spent @ the Bike Kitchen 
learning how to repair the gear de-railer cord and housing and true the back wheel, wandering the Mission Street Food festival, 
dancing salsa under the afternoon sun to a lively 6 piece latin band on one of the off-shoot streets in The festival, and walking Valencia Street with a mango ice lolli chatting with Brian, the Puerto Rican acupuncture and herbalist. That evening, soon to be former room mates Caleb, the Michigan native astrologer and Karla, the youth art program Puerto Rican with an infectious laugh, biked to the newly opened Ethiopian restaurant Moya on Folsom. Remy, a 22 year old American born Ethiopian works with me at Purity Organic and comes into the office once a week to file documents, and her mother have opened this authentic restaurant in SOMA (South of Market Area) and she was working on Saturday night.
learning how to repair the gear de-railer cord and housing and true the back wheel, wandering the Mission Street Food festival, dancing salsa under the afternoon sun to a lively 6 piece latin band on one of the off-shoot streets in The festival, and walking Valencia Street with a mango ice lolli chatting with Brian, the Puerto Rican acupuncture and herbalist. That evening, soon to be former room mates Caleb, the Michigan native astrologer and Karla, the youth art program Puerto Rican with an infectious laugh, biked to the newly opened Ethiopian restaurant Moya on Folsom. Remy, a 22 year old American born Ethiopian works with me at Purity Organic and comes into the office once a week to file documents, and her mother have opened this authentic restaurant in SOMA (South of Market Area) and she was working on Saturday night. Tofu tibs, 100% teft anjara and other Ethiopian delicacies awaited us before we left to go see the live flamenco, ska and acoustic inspired Makru band perform at a 1 room art space in the Mission.
A Mexican 20-something with talent like Juileta Venegas, a Spanish box drummer, a short, dark haired bass guitarist who reminds me of a former Chilean lust Aaron, and others, compose this amazingly refreshing group of performers.
Sunday, although less tranquil due to the moving of my gorwing collection of “stuff” to lauren and Seans, culminated in an impromptu women’s circle meeting of the females in the Gooddess Vortex on the stoops of our purple Victorian. The Sunday afternoon sun was hot. The steps were asking to be inhabited, and we answered with Sangria, Gin and cucumber cocktails in Mason jars, and girl chats about boys, sex and…knitting.
Olivia, the early 20-something with the knitting needles in hands and 100 watt smile studies full time, and works almost full time at Scarlet Sage, the neighbourhood herbal shop on Valencia. Having attended the desert festival Burning Man as a child, a rare and unique experience for both child and parent, her mother is deeply wound into the world of recycling and waste management within the city and state. The other Olivia, is a 1983 baby hailing from the culturally rich Aussie capital of Melbourne, Australia, has been a warm and welcome addition to the Goddess Vortex since her arrival with her equally lovely partner Heath almost 3 weeks ago. Both she and Heath are digital marketing folks who have hit the ground running since arriving to establish themselves in San Francisco for the next year. With her open mind, free flowing spirit and heavy hiking boots, Liv was sipping her gin & tonic spike with a slice of organic cucumber, while we dissected the “witty dialog” of the gin she had selected for her afternoon of Gin in the Sun.
So with a bit of a buzz, I headed back to my new home in the Haight, where I would continue with the seemingly endless internet dig into VLR of which I have been putting off in light of the sunny weather and blue skies. VLR being the Visas, Logistics and Reality of getting a US work visa, an Indian tourist visa and renewing Canadian passport - all at the same time. I am elated to say that at this point, despite the delays, all 3 are in the works to successfully be completed WOOHOO! Ok, so my original intent of this post was to share about India. More specifically -why. Why now? With who? Where? When? But alas, the sun is high noon now, the skies are still clear and this Sunday is calling my name. So India details will have to wait...until Tuesday :)
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