Street Talk

As I walked home from the subway yesterday, I passed a guy who was playing the saxophone on a street corner. An older woman walked by and threw some money in his case and thanked him. He stopped playing and they started to talk.

Woman: Thank you for that.
Sax guy: You're welcome.
Woman: That really lifted my spirit!
Sax guy: Wow. Well that really lifts my spirit!

Only in San Francisco (or California) will you hear this kind of banter. And despite this moment of potential upliftment (is that even a word?) I was almost immediately annoyed by some people who were walking too slowly in front me as I crossed the street. I have discovereed that I have 'walker expectation'. As a local resident, I have come to find the tourists rather annoying, and would prefer that they get their own special sidewalk. A place where they can wander freely, slowly and with little disregard for those around them who may be in a hurry to catch their train on time, or make it up the hill before peeing in their pants. Why must they stop in the middle of the sidewalk, or push their baby strollers at 1MPH? It is honestly the tipping point that can make or break my day, depending on how I feel.

I suppose that the east coast still simmers below the surface in me. Perhaps Worcester did ruin me forever, and I'm only realizing that now.