Peenie Wallie: Life Is A Dream

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April 26, 2011

Life Is A Dream

Life is a dream and we're sleepwalking through it. I get off work today and I think...where will I go? What will I do? It's so hard to to push forward in this day of days. Bernal Heights. That's where I'll go. Bernal Heights.

Now, I know....many of you would think, "Bernal Heights? Why Bernal Heights?" And some might turn their nose up at Bernal Heights, but I've done Twin Peaks and Buena Vista and Corona Heights and Potrero Hill and at some point, you think "Bernal Heights" and you should see the flowers there. And the roads are crazy. Just insanely steep one way roads with signs that say "Hill", and friend, if you see a sign in San Francisco that says "Hill", well it means something. It means Lord God You'd Better Find Your Lowest Gear and Hang On. Other signs say "Trucks Not Advised" and "One Way". These are all signs that things are about to become a lot more fun.

So, I'm driving around and sort of shooting everything that isn't nailed down. I find some new flowers. I see a lot of the plants I know now. I know now what they are. I see them now. Pride of Madeira. Bottle brush. Calla Lilly. Angel's Trumpet. Fox Gloves. Lavender. Ice plants.

And, when I see people, I stop them and ask them questions. Pointed, uncomfortable questions. They look at me like a circus freak. This stranger in leather and camouflage. This freak with the bike and the camera. They eye me nervously.

"No," they say. "I dont' know what it is." This is almost without exception. This is where we are. In a city of almost unparalleled beauty, the denizens are sleepwalking through their lives. Immune to the charms around them.

Of course, I'm driving through this surreal paradise, shooting like mad. I'm firing away at the flowers, chasing off hummingbirds. This is this.

And eventually, I leave Bernal Heights and I follow 30th Street up in the next set of hills. I couldn't say where I was perzactly. Only somewhere on 30th and there's this guy stranding out by some "Pride of Madeira" pulling weeds.

I stop and look at him. "Do you know what these flowers are?" I ask him. I know the answer. But God as my witness, not one person I've asked in San Francisco has ever gotten this right and they're everywhere.

"I do," he replies, "I even know the scientific name. They're called Pride of Madeira. The scientific name is 'Echium candicans'. They're in the Boraginaceae family:

"How do you know? I challenge.

"I'm a biologist," he replies.

"What about these?" I challenge.

"These are succulents."

"And these?"

Now I'm showing him flowers from my camera. And he's got a name for every one.

"Where have you been all my life? His name is Chip and I say 'Give me your email address'. And he gives me an email address and I think him profusely and drive away into the fading evening light.