A Permanent Backdrop

8/13/2024

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the way San Francisco's skyline looked in 2009.

At night in Peekskill, the loud cricket chirps make me ponder their purpose, while my dreams often take me back to San Francisco, the city I've inhabited longest. It seems this place has become a permanent backdrop in my subconscious.

Indeed, San Francisco is where I dream. Last night, I encountered a dear friend on the train to downtown—a Metro-North Railway service from Ingleside. Our closeness stems from sharing similar life timelines; we're born within a year of each other and graduated high school simultaneously, albeit from different schools.

Spotting her was astonishing, and our excited reunion led us to share a seat. I became her tour guide, pointing out the evolving skyline, having witnessed its transformation since 1983 from Potrero Hill at 215 Missouri Street, my first San Francisco address. Her appointment card, initially thought to be downtown, indicated a Sunset District location with a late afternoon schedule.

Exiting at downtown, we traversed a long tunnel leading to a hotel, where we were mistaken for tourists by a group of women. They offered tips and brochures, and after a warm exchange, we split.

I directed her to buses on Market Street or the N-Judah train for her appointment, promising to reconnect later.

Dreams being fluid, the scene shifted—awakening to find a man claiming to be my husband, leaving me shaken.