I followed up on my plan to Segway over to the Presidio this morning and left here at 7:00 so I could catch the rays of the rising sun on The Spire.
A beautiful morning, and I picked a good route, via Noe Street, Page Street, Golden Gate Park, and Arguello Boulevard. And oh, did I time it well, because the sun had just illuminated the sculpture as I arrived.
More good news was that by simply continuing on the road past the parking lot for the golf course clubhouse where my previous adventure had begun, I found a much better vantage, and one that required no tramping through the thorns.
Here it is in the morning.
As I was about to leave, I got into conversation with a couple of park service dudes and then, as I often do, gave the one who was interested a trial ride on the Segway.
My good deed was instantly rewarded because the dude suddenly said, “Hey, that’s him!” and I intuited immediately who. So I jumped on the Segway and whirred along the bike lane until I caught up with this gray haired guy who was walking along the road checking out The Spire. I blurted something to the effect that I’d been loving his stuff for years and thanks.
He broke into an ear-to-ear grin and stuck out his hand. Way better than touching the hem of his garment, it struck me, as his great rough paw engulfed and gently released, unharmed, my dainty hand. And oh, has he ever been handling lots of rocks.
Don’t we all just love it when folks like something we’ve created? Even a totally anonymous, utterly unimportant fan. When I was in the limo business I once picked up Paul Kantner at the airport and took him home, very professionally giving him no indication that I knew who he was even though I’d loved a lot of his work with Grace Slick.
After he paid me, including a nice tip, I thanked him and added, “and thanks for all that music.” He absolutely beamed at this….and from a nobody he’d never see again.
Damn. Shoulda said that before he tipped me.
On the way home I kinda liked this shot of Temple Emmanuel:
