the eeriness of a city sleeping

one of my favorite things about italy is the solitude of her morning. in venice in particular. too dark still to be morning long after it should, the only sounds being the faint swish of the brooms sweeping the streets of yesterday and the mild rushing of water through the canals, venice mornings have a hauntingly romantic feel about it.

dc mornings, on the other hand, though similarly dereft of life beyond the grumbling street sweepers, are more akin to the ruins abandoned by the traveling carnival. trash and half-eaten food everywhere, broken glass littering the walkways, dead rats strewn about, the smell of garbage drifting through air bogged down by soggy humidity, and a more americanized version of the street sweeper bitching about the pigs and the trough they make of the streets. notwithsanding its eww factor, dc mornings have their own air of intrigue.

and as different as their mornings can be, there really is something captivating in walking the streets of a city so typically swelling with life and sparkle, in those rare moments when even it gives in to the allure of sleep.

~k

stolen moments

about a year and a half ago, whilst leaving san francisco (i even believe it may've even been my first stint in san francisco on official business), i stole a moment in time that belonged to a pair of star-crossed lovers.

it was early on a saturday morning, SFO was essentially empty, and they were on the curb saying their goodbyes as i was being dropped off. i stood and watched them because it was one of those unforgettable moments that settled itself deep into my soul, and left behind something of a yearning.

she was probably 7.5 months pregnant, he was the one getting on the plane that morning. and the way he dropped to his knees, put his hands around her, and put his lips on her belly, saying goodbye not just to his lover, but to his baby, it really moved me. like, i saw love.

i witnessed this brief but beautiful moment in time that those lovers may not even remember (especially now that they're likely chasing a toddler around their lives). and for me, its impact has been immeasurable. because as much as i hope to someday be a mom, i don't want to do it without that kind of dad.

~k

mandarin crash

i'm in dc.

since yesterday (the long version), i have traveled approximately 13,000 miles, have been in five airports in five cities, and on four planes. i don't know when yesterday started or ended, or if it even has. i haven't slept anywhere but a plane, and didn't sleep on either of today's flights because i've been too jazzed playing with the pictures from my trip.

about an hour ago, i checked into my shmancy conference hotel in dc. i took a ridiculously long, hot bath (made a complete wreck of the bathroom by getting water everywhere), ordered room service, and now i'm sitting in a robe with my hair wrapped in a towel, waiting for my dinner to be hand delivered by some dude in white gloves.

in a word, amazing.

i may actually sleep tonight.

~k

fantastically ferrying

i am in san francisco, my other favorite city, and this week proves that mine is a very charmed life.

cuz, well, i am working here, and it's much like it is when i'm working in dc. i feel like i'm part of the city, the hustle and bustle, and the general ambiance that gives it the character and culture that makes it so beautiful.

this time is especially amazing in large part because, for the past two days, i've been commuting by ferry from sausalito. i've been waking up to a sun rising over san francisco and its bay bridge, then boarding a ferry that rides the waves of the bay to the ferry building, a few blocks from my office. the evening trip, btw, is unbelievable. on the ride back to sausalito, the sun sets behind and beneath the golden gate bridge, and it really is breathtaking.

the best part is that i know where i am, what i'm doing, and where i'm going in a city other than my own. all of which makes me feel like the awesomest person EVER!

the end.

~k