My Blessed Life in SF and Its Close Ties to Karaoke
I was hesitant to move to San Francisco after not quite finishing my time in New York. But love prevailed and I came back west on June 15, 2003 saying, "I'll give it a try for three months." Even though I knew I was coming for good.But part of moving is making new friends and finding a new home. I left dear friends in New York and slipped slowly into SF life.
With the holidays here I find myself reflecting on my very full life now. More than three years later and more than five years into my relationship with Van and our lives are full and blessed by dear friends -- some of whom were a blast from the past -- all of whom have enriched my life in ways I could not have predicted.
And now a big flourish for Karl and Michelle.
We met officially at Martuni's but we quickly found our way to where else but The Mint. Yes, a karaoke bar. (Karaoke is incidentally where I met Van in 2001, but more on that later.) Soon the fabulous K&M were brightening our then burgeoning annual Christmas Eve Eve party, then we were off to a trip on the Napa Wine Train, and soon many more wine tastings, dinners, movies, karaoke nights (poor Karl), Yum Yum Clubbing, trips, fundraisers, and more. We are in love with Karl and Michelle. Michelle sings a mean Shania, Dixie Chicks, Tanya Tucker, and Suzanne Vega -- to name a few. And then Becky came back into my life. Let's see. Becky and I met as CAs (really RAs but for on campus apartment housing) at ACU. We've been through it all -- and under a variety of scenarios and constraints. We kissed once on a piano bench -- to our mutual horror. Twas like kissing a sibling.
Now Becky is a globe trotting business owner of ten years with more gusto than one person should legally have. And I adore her more than ever. Becky sings a mean "Summer Nights," but generally flits around pretending she has a song waiting in the queue. (Yes, that is fabulous Michelle in the green shirt behind Becky. Oh the photos this night produced. They would singe your eyebrows if you saw them all.)A big surprise through work has been my fabulous friendships with Anette, Elaine, and Nick (among others not pictured here so I'll have to talk about them later).
Like Karl & Michelle -- and more of the gang we'll meet in a minute -- Anette, Elaine, and Nick are crazy fun seeking lovers of life who I simply adore and don't see enough of. Anette doesn't even pretend that she will sing and I'm waiting for the day she gets gone enough to lay one down. Elaine sings a very mean Heart and Nick sings a great "All of Me."And then Nikkol comes onto the scene two years ago saying, "I don't like karaoke," but boy does she get an earful around this crew and soon she is up in the mix singing "Don't Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton and bringing down the house.
A fab member of the Yum Yum Club, Nikkol is quick to laugh off a red wine stain on her cream colored sweater ... oh the stories she could tell. (Who started it again?)A moment of solidarity and non-photo-ness for Ana Ana Ana Ana Ana-Marie. Whom I adore.
Our Boyz In Da Hood here, Karl, Nick (yes another Nick) and Van. Nick is the highlight in this photo since I've already mentioned Karl and I'll give Van a special shout out in a second.
Nick is just one crazy-ass-biatch who has so much gumption that he hooked up with a guy running for Congress and actually got the guy to win! He even got Bill C. (of I did not have sex with that woman fame) to stump for his guy. Like most of my friends, Nick laughs -- seriously laughs -- with ease. And he is fond of belching frequently without apology. Although Nick's love of music is so great that he cannot be bothered with our musical destruction of his favorite songs, so the words "Nick" and "karaoke" are rarely paired.So this is a strange trio. Karaoke bar owner Chris, me, and Elizabeth (who p.s. has seven children ranging in age from 7 to 23 doesn't she look great!).
Here we are singing Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces" in three part screamony. Although Elizabeth was doing GREAT. Now we know where her children get their talent.This doesn't represent all of the fabulous people in my life on the West Coast, but it does represent all of the photos I have readily available on my Snapfish account. Just a glimpse of the people who make me happy.
One last photo for the road:
And before I close, I have to give the biggest shout out to my husband, Van, whom I love and adore more than I thought would ever be possible. Sometimes I leave him tucked away and sleeping in the morning (reading between the lines, he's actually the one who leaves ME sleeping since he generally leaves for work earlier) and I am overwhelmed by love to the point of tears. The odds were stacked against our meeting -- my living in New York and his living in San Francisco.
But in 2001 he made a last minute flight destination change (from Mexico to New York) and I decided out of pity to attend a mutual friend's birthday party after begrudgingly shopping all day for t-shirts with a visiting friend. Van and I ended up at this karaoke bar birthday party. The moment he walked in the door I forced a book in his lap and turned on all of the charm I could possibly summon. Three days later we found out that we grew up in the same denomination (which technically calls itself non-denominational ... ok) and the cement started to set.This photo is my new favorite of us. Complete, uninhibited love.
posted by Jay @ 12:05 AM
2 Comments:
I've got nothing but big love for you, my wonderful friend. You and Van are woven into the fabric of my West Coast life. This is really living...That your list of love contains so many that I cherish is the best gift in the world. And to think of all the fun and belly laughs we have ahead of us! There is no amount of swing dance-induced concussions or broken stemware that could stop this crazy train o' fun and love. xoxo M
Jared, You are the BEST!!!
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