(no subject)

[thoreau]

It was frankly - too quiet this morning on my walk with Miss Kate. at 7:30 am - no delivery trucks, no other people out on the sidewalks. Just me and Miss Kate in the new morning sunshine, her sniffing around me sipping loudly on my coffee. We played for a bit in the grass between the Opera House and Herbst - she runs these large circles and then comes charging at me - powernuzzling into my chest. The sun crested over city hall as we were playing and we both paused and looked back taking in the warmth. Then she bolted off for another circle. It is funny - she adores David - and gets all excited to greet him every morning when we come back and he's in bed still asleep. but - in these morning moments she's saying to me - "i'm so glad its just you and me" - and you can see how truly happy she is. Then we hooked her back up on the lead - and we headed around city hall and back towards the building. The blocks around the opera, city hall and civic center is the home to several groups of homeless - and a few of them (now that we've been living here seven months, omg!) know Miss Kate by name. One particular is "young man" - normally my greeting is "how are you this morning, young man?" Now I'm guessing he's at least 50 - but his scraggling beard and appearance may age him prematurely - but I get a big grin out of him everytime I say young man. Miss kate and I came upon his usual sleeping spot - and Miss Kate let out big loud hello bark. and thats when she and I realized that young man had a female guest with him. Now - every homeless person does not like dogs. I can imagine that some have had bad to very bad experiences. But Young Man greets Miss Kate and says "she's the prettiest little thing I've ever seen" and always gives her a pet. so when his guest showed herself from under the sea of tarps and sleeping bags, Miss Kate paused - and the guest recoiled. I'm sure she'd be woken up and - also - was scared of the dog. Young Man said good morning - and blushing at kate and me seeing him with company - he said "Cold night out last night." and with that - his guest relaxed and they both enjoyed a goood morning hello and lick from Miss Kate. I dropped them a few bucks for morning coffee - and Miss Kate and I headed home. San Francisco is one of those wierd cities - where the homeless seem to be everywhere. And I know how fortunate I am to live in the muffin penthouse and have a good solid job, a fun car, a great boyfriend and a loving, caring puppy dog. Do I care whether Young Man uses the fiver I gave him for coffee? honestly, no. but we live in the same neighborhood - and it was cold out last night. I think it is good to know the folks in your neighborhood - whether they are down the hall in another apartment - or sleeping in the alcove on the stairs at the theater.