Aa
Hi, a little about me...
Hi, I've been posting on the Substance Abuse Forum so I thought I'd come and have a peek at the Social Forum and tell everyone (I know you can hardly wait) a little more about myself that does "NOT" have to do with Drug Addiction.
I grew up in San Franciso, and I have to say I think it was the best place to grow up in. I had alot of freedom as a child because my mother was an alcoholic and wasn't paying too much attention to me, but I didn't get into a whole lot of trouble, I just had alot of fun in the city.
When I was 7 I was riding the Busses and Streetcars and Cable Cars and Trolley Cars all over the city. I remember when "Stonestown" was still all Cobblestone Streets. When I was really young 1-3 we lived in an Apartment Building by the Presidio. The Old Lady downstairs from us had an Old Fashioned Ice Box that took the big blocks of ice, and I remember the Ice Man, when he came to put in her new Block of Ice would give us big Ice Chunks to suck on, and sometimes in the Summer he would put out a whole Block Of Ice for us to sit on. That didn't happen very often because it never got too hot in San Francisco.
I loved going to the beach and the Zoo and the Museums and everything was free. So much Culture at my fingertips. I could get an all day Bus Pass for 5 cents, and the movies were only 15 cents. On Saturdays my mother would give me 50 cents and I could go to the movies and eat candy till it made me sick.
There was a famous Ice Cream Store in my neighborhood (I grew up in the Castro before it was "The Castro") called "Buds," and Bud was just the sweetest old man. He was always giving free ice cream to the kids who didn't have money, and the Bakery a few doors down always had day-old cookies they would give out.
The corner drugstore was a place where they let us kids hang out and read the Comic Books, and there were the local Neighborhood Homeless, but they weren't scary or mean, just kind of sad because most of them were Alcoholics, and would dig through the Safeway Dumpster across from my house after the store closed in the evenings.
When I was 6 I started running errands for the Neighborhood's Alcoholic Couple who lived a few doors down from us in an apartment building. Their fights were legendary, and all the kids would gather outside to hear them cuss and swear at each other.
I don't remember how it started, but I ended up being their "errand girl" for their Liquor and Cigarettes. They would call in their order to the Liquor Store down the street and pay me $5.00 to go and pick it up and bring it back to them. I was in "Fat City" until my mom found out where the money was coming from and shut down that operation.
At 10 though I started working as a Baby Sitter and a Ladies Assistant to the several of the Older Ladies that lived on our street. I did everything from scrubbing floors to Ironing sheets. (No No-Iron Sheets back then.)
Also, I'm not "That Old" yet. I'm only 55. Working for these Ladies was also like going to a proper "Finishing School for Young Ladies." I was taught how to set a "Formal Table" with Real Linen and Real Silver Silver Ware. What all the different place settings were for different type of events. How to pour a "Proper Tea," you had to hold you Pinkie "Just So" when pouring, and not to spill. How to sit and be quiet while the "Ladies" Chatted. Of course, and how to clean up afterwords.
How to clean a house spotless from front to back. I loved doing it, and I loved making my own money.
During my free-time, one of my favorite things to do was swim. At the San Francisco Zoo there was a swimming pool "Fleischacker." Named I think for the Family that contributed the money for the Zoo to be built. It was the largest "Salt-Water Swimming Pool in the World." I would swim there on the coldest, foggiest days, and there was a Tunnel that went under the "Great Highway, (Highway 1)" and I could go from the pool to the beach and back again.
After I started Kindergarten, my Mother (she worked as a Lab Pathologist at the Morgue for the City and County of San Francisco) couldn't afford a Baby Sitter for me for after school, so I would take the Bus from School to the Morgue and spend the rest of the day with my Mom in her Lab. I would play with Bones like other kids played with Legos or Building Blocks. My Mom would let me "Slice the Tissues" for the Autopsies in her Tissue Slicing Machine, and I saw alot of things there that most people would never see in a lifetime. The saddest were all the little fetuses and babies in their Jars of Formaldehyde, lined up on the Window Sill like a Museum Display.
The Library was another one of my favorite places to go. You could check out 14 books every 2 weeks, and I always checked out 14, and read them all in the 2 weeks period. I was so excited when I got my "Big Kids" Library Card and I could move from the "Little Kids" books into the more Advanced Books.
Reading has always been a big part of my life. Art too. My Brother, who was a few years older than me, started getting ahold of Playboy Magazines, and I would use the Full Page Nudes as "Subjects" for my Drawings. Of course I liked reading the articles too. Honestly. There was a section with stories called "Madame Xavier." Madame Xavier was supposed to be "a Madame, who had girls for hire," and people would write to her with these stores of these amazing sexual encounters. I was only 8 or 9, but I always thought they were made up. They sounded "too good to be true."
I remember when my mother found my "Art Drawings" and did she have a fit then. I went on to College with a Major in Psych and a Minor in Art, and "Life Drawing," which for anyone who doesn't know, is drawing your subject sans clothes.
Well, that's probably enough for now, I don't want to "Bore" anyone with my Stories. Just wanted to share a little bit of my life.
I grew up in San Franciso, and I have to say I think it was the best place to grow up in. I had alot of freedom as a child because my mother was an alcoholic and wasn't paying too much attention to me, but I didn't get into a whole lot of trouble, I just had alot of fun in the city.
When I was 7 I was riding the Busses and Streetcars and Cable Cars and Trolley Cars all over the city. I remember when "Stonestown" was still all Cobblestone Streets. When I was really young 1-3 we lived in an Apartment Building by the Presidio. The Old Lady downstairs from us had an Old Fashioned Ice Box that took the big blocks of ice, and I remember the Ice Man, when he came to put in her new Block of Ice would give us big Ice Chunks to suck on, and sometimes in the Summer he would put out a whole Block Of Ice for us to sit on. That didn't happen very often because it never got too hot in San Francisco.
I loved going to the beach and the Zoo and the Museums and everything was free. So much Culture at my fingertips. I could get an all day Bus Pass for 5 cents, and the movies were only 15 cents. On Saturdays my mother would give me 50 cents and I could go to the movies and eat candy till it made me sick.
There was a famous Ice Cream Store in my neighborhood (I grew up in the Castro before it was "The Castro") called "Buds," and Bud was just the sweetest old man. He was always giving free ice cream to the kids who didn't have money, and the Bakery a few doors down always had day-old cookies they would give out.
The corner drugstore was a place where they let us kids hang out and read the Comic Books, and there were the local Neighborhood Homeless, but they weren't scary or mean, just kind of sad because most of them were Alcoholics, and would dig through the Safeway Dumpster across from my house after the store closed in the evenings.
When I was 6 I started running errands for the Neighborhood's Alcoholic Couple who lived a few doors down from us in an apartment building. Their fights were legendary, and all the kids would gather outside to hear them cuss and swear at each other.
I don't remember how it started, but I ended up being their "errand girl" for their Liquor and Cigarettes. They would call in their order to the Liquor Store down the street and pay me $5.00 to go and pick it up and bring it back to them. I was in "Fat City" until my mom found out where the money was coming from and shut down that operation.
At 10 though I started working as a Baby Sitter and a Ladies Assistant to the several of the Older Ladies that lived on our street. I did everything from scrubbing floors to Ironing sheets. (No No-Iron Sheets back then.)
Also, I'm not "That Old" yet. I'm only 55. Working for these Ladies was also like going to a proper "Finishing School for Young Ladies." I was taught how to set a "Formal Table" with Real Linen and Real Silver Silver Ware. What all the different place settings were for different type of events. How to pour a "Proper Tea," you had to hold you Pinkie "Just So" when pouring, and not to spill. How to sit and be quiet while the "Ladies" Chatted. Of course, and how to clean up afterwords.
How to clean a house spotless from front to back. I loved doing it, and I loved making my own money.
During my free-time, one of my favorite things to do was swim. At the San Francisco Zoo there was a swimming pool "Fleischacker." Named I think for the Family that contributed the money for the Zoo to be built. It was the largest "Salt-Water Swimming Pool in the World." I would swim there on the coldest, foggiest days, and there was a Tunnel that went under the "Great Highway, (Highway 1)" and I could go from the pool to the beach and back again.
After I started Kindergarten, my Mother (she worked as a Lab Pathologist at the Morgue for the City and County of San Francisco) couldn't afford a Baby Sitter for me for after school, so I would take the Bus from School to the Morgue and spend the rest of the day with my Mom in her Lab. I would play with Bones like other kids played with Legos or Building Blocks. My Mom would let me "Slice the Tissues" for the Autopsies in her Tissue Slicing Machine, and I saw alot of things there that most people would never see in a lifetime. The saddest were all the little fetuses and babies in their Jars of Formaldehyde, lined up on the Window Sill like a Museum Display.
The Library was another one of my favorite places to go. You could check out 14 books every 2 weeks, and I always checked out 14, and read them all in the 2 weeks period. I was so excited when I got my "Big Kids" Library Card and I could move from the "Little Kids" books into the more Advanced Books.
Reading has always been a big part of my life. Art too. My Brother, who was a few years older than me, started getting ahold of Playboy Magazines, and I would use the Full Page Nudes as "Subjects" for my Drawings. Of course I liked reading the articles too. Honestly. There was a section with stories called "Madame Xavier." Madame Xavier was supposed to be "a Madame, who had girls for hire," and people would write to her with these stores of these amazing sexual encounters. I was only 8 or 9, but I always thought they were made up. They sounded "too good to be true."
I remember when my mother found my "Art Drawings" and did she have a fit then. I went on to College with a Major in Psych and a Minor in Art, and "Life Drawing," which for anyone who doesn't know, is drawing your subject sans clothes.
Well, that's probably enough for now, I don't want to "Bore" anyone with my Stories. Just wanted to share a little bit of my life.
I do not like people calling San Francisco "Frisco." The request I get the most is for their famous Sourdough Bread.
The thing about the Japanese Tea Garden that always got me was that bridge where the steps were so close together you had to climb to get over the bridge....I had many issues with my stepmother, but one thing I've always been grateful for was her frequently taking us to GG park and the DeYoung museums and all the stuff around there...
5 and dime...I haven't heard that term in years..
Yes, there were certainly some strange people in SF.
It's not "Frisco" it's "San Francisco"....I still get in arguments with friends here back east over that one...
and I also tell friends going there for the first time to be sure to bring me back some fresh rice a roni from the airport.."what?" "yeah...they serve it up in freshly made batches out of big vats and pack it to fly!" and they believe me :-)
Of course so did my daughter when we were in Philadelphia airport recently and asked her to go get some freshly made cream cheese at one of the souvenier shops..
Jim
5 and dime...I haven't heard that term in years..
Yes, there were certainly some strange people in SF.
It's not "Frisco" it's "San Francisco"....I still get in arguments with friends here back east over that one...
and I also tell friends going there for the first time to be sure to bring me back some fresh rice a roni from the airport.."what?" "yeah...they serve it up in freshly made batches out of big vats and pack it to fly!" and they believe me :-)
Of course so did my daughter when we were in Philadelphia airport recently and asked her to go get some freshly made cream cheese at one of the souvenier shops..
Jim
Yeah, I remeber that song very well. And Foster's Cafeteria, I'd been there many times.
I remember when we would go the Japanese Tea Garden, there was a big Stone Buddah, and I used to think all the round things on his head were snails, and I would wonder why the snails liked to live on his head. LOL
Mission Park was another park I would go to, but there were alot of dirty old men in the City. I remember alot of different dudes showing of their goods.
There was one guy down the street from where I lived, he wasn't old, but when I started Junior High School, every day when I would walk to school he would stand in his window stark naked. I guess I could have walked around the other way, LOL.
One day he was out on his front stoop, and I asked him why he did that everyday, he told me to "shut up and go away."
I lived on Jersey St. and Castro was our cross street, the next street over was 24th, and that's where they had all the little shops. There was a great candy store, you could by "penny candy," it had the old fashioned ice cream counter, there was the 5 and dime. I can hardly tell it's the same street now, none of the old stores are there anymore.
I remember when we would go the Japanese Tea Garden, there was a big Stone Buddah, and I used to think all the round things on his head were snails, and I would wonder why the snails liked to live on his head. LOL
Mission Park was another park I would go to, but there were alot of dirty old men in the City. I remember alot of different dudes showing of their goods.
There was one guy down the street from where I lived, he wasn't old, but when I started Junior High School, every day when I would walk to school he would stand in his window stark naked. I guess I could have walked around the other way, LOL.
One day he was out on his front stoop, and I asked him why he did that everyday, he told me to "shut up and go away."
I lived on Jersey St. and Castro was our cross street, the next street over was 24th, and that's where they had all the little shops. There was a great candy store, you could by "penny candy," it had the old fashioned ice cream counter, there was the 5 and dime. I can hardly tell it's the same street now, none of the old stores are there anymore.
Here's a mid 60's pic of SF (Mission St and First I believe, with the trolley car that badshadow spoke of, and a Foster's cafeteria of which I spoke
http://tinyurl.com/233xvu5
Pete Seeger, whom I had the pleasure of meeting once in Monterey, singing "Little Boxes"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN3rN59GlWw
Jim who had better get to work
a song mostly understood by San Franciscans:
Little Boxes
Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1990. Malvina and her husband were on their way from where they lived in Berkeley, through San Francisco and down the peninsula to La Honda where she was to sing at a meeting of the Friends’ Committee on Legislation (not the PTA, as Pete Seeger says in the documentary about Malvina, “Love It Like a Fool”). As she drove through Daly City, she said “Bud, take the wheel. I feel a song coming on.”
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,1
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
Little Boxes
Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1990. Malvina and her husband were on their way from where they lived in Berkeley, through San Francisco and down the peninsula to La Honda where she was to sing at a meeting of the Friends’ Committee on Legislation (not the PTA, as Pete Seeger says in the documentary about Malvina, “Love It Like a Fool”). As she drove through Daly City, she said “Bud, take the wheel. I feel a song coming on.”
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,1
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
No more seals at the zoo??? they were always my favorites...of course I remember Monkey Island..always stood at a safe distance,, and I always had to go on the ponies...how could they take the train away?? I saw a program on NatGeo channel about the horrible tiger incident from last year and saw how they rebuilt that exhibit..and was hoping to see more of the zoo...I **loved** that pink popcorn!
Ghiradelli Square was one of my favorite places...went there at least once a month as a late teen..took a lot of dates there.. One day a friend and I were sitting on a bench under the influence of a chemical substance and up to us came "The inquiring photographer" from the Chronicle! PANIC!!...we fumbled our way through it and wound up in the paper!
I remember the restaurant in North Beach but can't remember the name...as kids we always went to Alioto's or Castignolas (?) for crab louie...and in Chinatown we'd go to a restaurant that a Chinese architect my Dad knew was a partner, and we'd always go into the "Special" room and were treated like royalty...
God, I could do this forever and I have lots of work to do today...but I'm sure I'll come up with more...
Jim
Ghiradelli Square was one of my favorite places...went there at least once a month as a late teen..took a lot of dates there.. One day a friend and I were sitting on a bench under the influence of a chemical substance and up to us came "The inquiring photographer" from the Chronicle! PANIC!!...we fumbled our way through it and wound up in the paper!
I remember the restaurant in North Beach but can't remember the name...as kids we always went to Alioto's or Castignolas (?) for crab louie...and in Chinatown we'd go to a restaurant that a Chinese architect my Dad knew was a partner, and we'd always go into the "Special" room and were treated like royalty...
God, I could do this forever and I have lots of work to do today...but I'm sure I'll come up with more...
Jim
found this this morning... memories of my Dad, then an executive with Fosters
http://media.photobucket.com/image/Foster%252527s%20cafeteria%20San%20Francisco/VIEWLINER/0807/MUNI1.jpg
Will read everything else in a bit..just got a work call
Jim
Yeah Bear, I climbed all over that train engine too. So did my Son, but they've taken it away now. There used to be this little Horse Riding Coral, and I loved getting up on the big Horse and going around the Coral until one spring some bird had builts it's nest in a tree next the Coral, and when the Horse went under the Tree the Bird started Dive-Bombing the Horse, and the Horse bucked me off. I've been afraid of Horses ever since. Don't trust em. I have some other funny Horse stories too.
Don't forget the Cotton Candy, that nasty Pink Popcorn, they still sell it and it's like eating Cardboard, LOL.
The Zoo is so different now. They changed the entrance and the parking, I don't even care to go there anymore. I remember when you could get I think .10 cents worth of fish and feed it to t he seals. No more fish, no more seals. I really like going into the Lion House at feedting time, the roar of the Lions was deafening.
Do you remember "Monkey Island," LOL. That's where I learned what Masturbation was cause those little Monkey were doing it all the time, and all the kids would just stare and stare and all these Monkey whanging their weiner. It was so gross, but so funny. They got rid of Monkey Island first.
I always did feel sad for the animals though, locked up in small cages, especially the Leopards and Jaguars. Hardly enough room to walk around in.
I did enjoy that crazy Orangutan that was right up front. He hated it when people wore those Reflective Sunglasses, maybe he thought it was another Orangutane, but I used to wait and watch for someone who had those glasses on, and he would throw his S*** at them. We'd run away just laughing and laughing.
The Marina was always nice too. The beautfiul blue water, people sailing their boats.
Also, Ghiradelli Square, down by the end of the Cable Car line. The Wax Museum, and Chinatown was like being in a different world. All these stores crammed up against each other with the weirdest things in Jars. Of course, they wouldn't really talk to you, and I don't blame them. Either buy something or get out. LOL
There was a Restaurant in North Beach that my Mom and Dad used to go out on Dates too. It's really famous for it's Crab Cioppino on Friday Nights. People would be wound around the block to get in. It wasn't much to look at on the inside either. Really dark, not many tables, but their Cioppino was the best. The Name escapes me at the moment. I've taken my kids there though.
Jeez, we sound like a couple of Old Fogies talking about the "Good Old Days," LOL They were good though.
Don't forget the Cotton Candy, that nasty Pink Popcorn, they still sell it and it's like eating Cardboard, LOL.
The Zoo is so different now. They changed the entrance and the parking, I don't even care to go there anymore. I remember when you could get I think .10 cents worth of fish and feed it to t he seals. No more fish, no more seals. I really like going into the Lion House at feedting time, the roar of the Lions was deafening.
Do you remember "Monkey Island," LOL. That's where I learned what Masturbation was cause those little Monkey were doing it all the time, and all the kids would just stare and stare and all these Monkey whanging their weiner. It was so gross, but so funny. They got rid of Monkey Island first.
I always did feel sad for the animals though, locked up in small cages, especially the Leopards and Jaguars. Hardly enough room to walk around in.
I did enjoy that crazy Orangutan that was right up front. He hated it when people wore those Reflective Sunglasses, maybe he thought it was another Orangutane, but I used to wait and watch for someone who had those glasses on, and he would throw his S*** at them. We'd run away just laughing and laughing.
The Marina was always nice too. The beautfiul blue water, people sailing their boats.
Also, Ghiradelli Square, down by the end of the Cable Car line. The Wax Museum, and Chinatown was like being in a different world. All these stores crammed up against each other with the weirdest things in Jars. Of course, they wouldn't really talk to you, and I don't blame them. Either buy something or get out. LOL
There was a Restaurant in North Beach that my Mom and Dad used to go out on Dates too. It's really famous for it's Crab Cioppino on Friday Nights. People would be wound around the block to get in. It wasn't much to look at on the inside either. Really dark, not many tables, but their Cioppino was the best. The Name escapes me at the moment. I've taken my kids there though.
Jeez, we sound like a couple of Old Fogies talking about the "Good Old Days," LOL They were good though.
The Zoo had a great carousel and I loved climbing all over the train engines and coal cars they had there...and the pink popcorn!
I remember that evertime I'd see a Doggy Diner, I'd think of "Augy" on Sgt Bilko ;-) for some god unknown reason.
Jim
I remember that evertime I'd see a Doggy Diner, I'd think of "Augy" on Sgt Bilko ;-) for some god unknown reason.
Jim
I couldn't agree more about the Vets...as a child that used to bother me too and still does..
Doggy Diner! That's it...I remember late one night walking the Tenderloin, the Fillmore (used to there all the time) and never having any problems..my dad always warned me to stay away from those places! I never new that about Sears and Roebucks! We used to go to Seals Stadium for baseball games and I'll never forget the Hammmmmmms beer glass... I loved the fog...people I talk to here in New England don't believe me when I tell them we used to go to baseball games at Candlestick in July and wear winter clothes even if it was 100 where we came from less than 30 miles away.. Until my boss went one night on a business trip out there..
Check out my new profile pic.
Jim
Doggy Diner! That's it...I remember late one night walking the Tenderloin, the Fillmore (used to there all the time) and never having any problems..my dad always warned me to stay away from those places! I never new that about Sears and Roebucks! We used to go to Seals Stadium for baseball games and I'll never forget the Hammmmmmms beer glass... I loved the fog...people I talk to here in New England don't believe me when I tell them we used to go to baseball games at Candlestick in July and wear winter clothes even if it was 100 where we came from less than 30 miles away.. Until my boss went one night on a business trip out there..
Check out my new profile pic.
Jim
I remember the Hot Dog Place name, it was "Doggy Diner." You can still get It's It's. They sell them at the supermarket. The Location by the beach is gone, but the place where they make them is still here.
There was a Candy Store downtown, called "Blums." Every year for my Birthday my dad would get be a Pink Champagne Cake and a bag of the Fudge Covered Almonds. See's carries something like it, they call them "Almond Royales."
The Hospital I was born in isn't there anymore, St. Lukes, and I remember when I found out that Sears, back then it was Sears and Roebucks, well Mr Roebucks was a Black man, and he was forced out by his white partner who was getting pressured about having a Black partner. I think that was the first time I understood about prejudice and how ugly it is.
When I grew up there, there really wasn't anything off limits. I LOVED the really foggy days because I could go and hike up Twin Peaks and pretend I was in a different world.
I called myself and "Adventurer" and San Francisco was my own private Adventure Land.
I would go to the Tenderloin, to the Fillmore, swim at all the different public pools.
I love the Children's Park in GG Park with the Carousel, the Zoo had a good one too.
When my mother would take me downtown shopping I had to dress like a little lady. I had my special "Downtown Dress, Coat, Socks, Shoes," and of course last but not least, little white gloves. One thing that used to hurt me was seeing all the WWII Vet who'd lost their lelgs in the war. The would roll around on these platforms with wheels on them selling pencils that the VA gave them. That taught me a lesson about government. That they don't take care of their own. Whatever money I had on me I would just give to them, but not take their pencils. I felt a sense of outrage that these men who had fought for our country weren't being better taken care of. I've always had a very sensitive heart to the suffering of other people.
More later.
There was a Candy Store downtown, called "Blums." Every year for my Birthday my dad would get be a Pink Champagne Cake and a bag of the Fudge Covered Almonds. See's carries something like it, they call them "Almond Royales."
The Hospital I was born in isn't there anymore, St. Lukes, and I remember when I found out that Sears, back then it was Sears and Roebucks, well Mr Roebucks was a Black man, and he was forced out by his white partner who was getting pressured about having a Black partner. I think that was the first time I understood about prejudice and how ugly it is.
When I grew up there, there really wasn't anything off limits. I LOVED the really foggy days because I could go and hike up Twin Peaks and pretend I was in a different world.
I called myself and "Adventurer" and San Francisco was my own private Adventure Land.
I would go to the Tenderloin, to the Fillmore, swim at all the different public pools.
I love the Children's Park in GG Park with the Carousel, the Zoo had a good one too.
When my mother would take me downtown shopping I had to dress like a little lady. I had my special "Downtown Dress, Coat, Socks, Shoes," and of course last but not least, little white gloves. One thing that used to hurt me was seeing all the WWII Vet who'd lost their lelgs in the war. The would roll around on these platforms with wheels on them selling pencils that the VA gave them. That taught me a lesson about government. That they don't take care of their own. Whatever money I had on me I would just give to them, but not take their pencils. I felt a sense of outrage that these men who had fought for our country weren't being better taken care of. I've always had a very sensitive heart to the suffering of other people.
More later.
It's Its!!! of course....Oh, they were wonderful and yes, I remember the hot dog place...what was the name of that? that's going to drive me nuts..I forgot about the windmills, but yes remember the skating rink and the fat lady at Playland...scared me too...I loved the wooden slides you'd ride on a gunny sack...I was so scared the first time I went on them...I always wanted to go in the diving bell but never did...
Whenever we'd go to the Cliff House (before it changed owners) we were treated like royalty because my dad was an executive with the company and everybody knew us kids and took special care of us and we'd watch the seals on seal rocks...and camera obscura...I forgot about the crooked planks...
My Dad worked in SF and he'd frequently bring home Its Its (basically an ice cream sandwich with big cookies on the top and bottom..I can taste them now..
All last night I thought about San Francisco..after reading your notes...Now I've gotta dig out my Dirty Harry Movies and watch them for scenes of SF.
Jim
Whenever we'd go to the Cliff House (before it changed owners) we were treated like royalty because my dad was an executive with the company and everybody knew us kids and took special care of us and we'd watch the seals on seal rocks...and camera obscura...I forgot about the crooked planks...
My Dad worked in SF and he'd frequently bring home Its Its (basically an ice cream sandwich with big cookies on the top and bottom..I can taste them now..
All last night I thought about San Francisco..after reading your notes...Now I've gotta dig out my Dirty Harry Movies and watch them for scenes of SF.
Jim
It's Its!!! of course....Oh, they were wonderful and yes, I remember the hot dog place...what was the name of that? that's going to drive me nuts..I forgot about the windmills, but yes remember the skating rink and the fat lady at Playland...scared me too...I loved the wooden slides you'd ride on a gunny sack...I was so scared the first time I went on them...I always wanted to go in the diving bell but never did...
Whenever we'd go to the Cliff House (before it changed owners) we were treated like royalty because my dad was an executive with the company and everybody knew us kids and took special care of us and we'd watch the seals on seal rocks...and camera obscura...I forgot about the crooked planks...
My Dad worked in SF and he'd frequently bring home Its Its (basically an ice cream sandwich with big cookies on the top and bottom..I can taste them now..
All last night I thought about San Francisco..after reading your notes...Now I've gotta dig out my Dirty Harry Movies and watch them for scenes of SF.
Jim
Whenever we'd go to the Cliff House (before it changed owners) we were treated like royalty because my dad was an executive with the company and everybody knew us kids and took special care of us and we'd watch the seals on seal rocks...and camera obscura...I forgot about the crooked planks...
My Dad worked in SF and he'd frequently bring home Its Its (basically an ice cream sandwich with big cookies on the top and bottom..I can taste them now..
All last night I thought about San Francisco..after reading your notes...Now I've gotta dig out my Dirty Harry Movies and watch them for scenes of SF.
Jim
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is pretty cool to read.......Keep it going you 2!! I cant add anything as i have never been to San Fransisco. Just a Minnesota girl here........
Yep, I remember all that and more. I remember hearing the Fog Horns at night and they would always make me feel safe as I listened to them while I fell asleep.
Your right about that Diving Platform at the Pool, That was a big Diving Tower. I did dive off it, but never from the top.
The Fat Lady at Playland at the Beach used to scare the S*** out of me for some reason. And when you'd go inside they had those crooked like planks you had to walk across. When it was a girl, the guy in booth would put on the Air Blower and your dress would blow up around your head. Well, your not a girl, but that's o.k.
One time when I was really little I got stuck in the Barrell of Monkeys. They had to shut it down so I could get out. I was sooo embarassed and my friends were all laughing at me. Stupid friends, LOL.
I loved going to the Japanese Tea Garden and Golden Gate Park. I used to go look at those 2 Buffaloes too. Of course I went to the Cliff House. There was the little Mechanical Toy part down below, and the Camera Obscura. I used to hike all over those Cliffs around there.
I don't know if you remember the Cliffs across from the Cliff house, but they weren't real. They were made out some heavy duty like Paper Maiche, and the homeless would cut holes in them to sleep in at night.
I remeber the Woolworths on Clement, and the Big one Downtown. I remember City of Paris, and Union Square.
And don't forget It'sIt's, they were right down there by the beach too, and those 2 old Wind Mills. There was a skating rink by the beach too.
Do you remember that Hot Dog place? There was one right across from the Zoo, with a Big Daschsund.
Well Detoxing is making it hard for me to write.
It's nice to come across a "Fellow" San Franciscan.
Your right about that Diving Platform at the Pool, That was a big Diving Tower. I did dive off it, but never from the top.
The Fat Lady at Playland at the Beach used to scare the S*** out of me for some reason. And when you'd go inside they had those crooked like planks you had to walk across. When it was a girl, the guy in booth would put on the Air Blower and your dress would blow up around your head. Well, your not a girl, but that's o.k.
One time when I was really little I got stuck in the Barrell of Monkeys. They had to shut it down so I could get out. I was sooo embarassed and my friends were all laughing at me. Stupid friends, LOL.
I loved going to the Japanese Tea Garden and Golden Gate Park. I used to go look at those 2 Buffaloes too. Of course I went to the Cliff House. There was the little Mechanical Toy part down below, and the Camera Obscura. I used to hike all over those Cliffs around there.
I don't know if you remember the Cliffs across from the Cliff house, but they weren't real. They were made out some heavy duty like Paper Maiche, and the homeless would cut holes in them to sleep in at night.
I remeber the Woolworths on Clement, and the Big one Downtown. I remember City of Paris, and Union Square.
And don't forget It'sIt's, they were right down there by the beach too, and those 2 old Wind Mills. There was a skating rink by the beach too.
Do you remember that Hot Dog place? There was one right across from the Zoo, with a Big Daschsund.
Well Detoxing is making it hard for me to write.
It's nice to come across a "Fellow" San Franciscan.
Christmas...going downtown and all the decorations in the windows, Riding the Ferry across the bay...life was so wonderful then
Jim
Jim
Oh, and I remember that pool, the diving board always scared the daylights out of me...I used to ride the trolleys with my grandmother to Stonestown...do you remember at Christmas when they had rides there? I seem to recall they were near or maybe even on top of the Emporium store..
When we moved down the Peninsula, we'd still come to GG park to the museums, the aquarium, the Japanese Tea Garden or to see the Buffalo or 2 grazing in their enclosure...
Bless you for these memories..
When we moved down the Peninsula, we'd still come to GG park to the museums, the aquarium, the Japanese Tea Garden or to see the Buffalo or 2 grazing in their enclosure...
Bless you for these memories..
OH MY GOD Badshadow....I grew up in SF and on the Peninsula...my grandparents lived in SF on California street and everynight as the fog rolled in I'd love hearing the foghorn going off...as a little guy I'd go with my grandmother to a little store on the corner for her shopping and I always loved staying with them...my other grandmother lived in the same building and worked at Woolworth's on Clement St.
How I wish I had time to talk about it today...I miss SF so much I can stand it...I can still smell eucalyptus (sp?) in the air, everywhere...
Did you ever go to the Cliff House Restaurant out on the Great Highway? Playland at the Beach? My Dad worked for a company that owned the Cliff House...Remember Foster's cafeterias? That's where my dad worked as a VP...Herb Caen..Cable Cars...the GG bridge..The Zoo and the fog rolling in during ball games when you had to dress in winter coats in July when the town you live in was 100+ degrees...
Oh my God am I homesick...just today I saw Tony Bennett on TV and immediately "I left my Heart in San Francisco" popped into my head...
How I wish I had time to write more...
Thank you for othe memories
Jim
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