This Is Why San Francisco Is Still a Beautiful City

Sometimes a church lady will bless you in passing

Photo by author

Church ladies wield a special, very traditional sort of love.

Though this version of random affection is more likely to happen in the South, our story is set in San Francisco.

She was a lady who crossed the road near the place where I take the sun.

That is to say, she was a black lady who crossed the road near the place where I take the sun.

Love With a Small L

Five minutes later, she pops around the corner of the building, gets closer to me than most dare, and says, “Can I give you five dollars?”

I heard each word, but I did not get her meaning. I said, “Pardon me?”

She repeats, “Can I give you five dollars?”

Then, just like that, I understood her.

Later on, I would describe the second moment, but I would use Keanu Reeves as a reference.

Remembering a Younger Self

It’s the scene from The Matrix in which he downloads many lifetimes’ worth of martial arts training in a few seconds.