It is 10:30 a.m. and it’s a beautiful, though slightly chilly, day in the Mission. It is now 49˚ and will rise to 57˚. Details for the next ten days here.
Today’s block: Florida to Bryant Streets, 24th to 25th Streets.
My alarm went off at 5:15 a.m., but I didn’t roll out of bed until 5:50 a.m.. Last night, I went to bed eager to get up and complete my hour long Monday morning swim and be done in time to start this assignment by 7 a.m.. However, muscle soreness from this weekend’s workouts and staying up too late binging on Netflix movies caused me to wake up with a different set of emotions that I wouldn’t describe as eager.
Nevertheless, I press on: deep stretches, home-brewed coffee and a bowl of cereal with cut pieces of bananas and strawberries were enough to gather my focus for the task at hand. I put off swimming for the afternoon and decided to make completing this assignment my morning priority.
I have deep connections to this intersection. I would get off and on the 48 MUNI bus here everyday in grammar school when I was a student at Bryant Elementary. As a candidate for SF School Board, the sisters that own L’s Cafe were the first business owners to put up my campaign signs in their windows. In many ways, you can say these streets brought me closer to God. Here is where I built relationships that allowed for a deeper level of self-discovery, where I learned a new meaning of service and what could be gained in the pursuit of serenity.
This neighborhood is poetic. Now that I am resident of the Mission living in an overpriced studio with my girlfriend. I would say that it is poetic justice that the kid that grew up poor, found love and success would come back to reside in a community that has been gentrified. Maybe I’m wrong and I’m overstating the significance of my return to this community. I’m willing to admit that, but I can’t walk these blocks without carrying that responsibility.
Nevertheless I press on, looking for the images that can gather my focus for the task at hand.
With the light good early on, so much the better to sign on to document your block. Don’t wait! Let us know what day and block you would like at info@missionlocal.com.
You can see a map of all of the blocks here. The blocks in grey are being saved for others who have signed up. Let us save a block for you as well.