Beauty in the strangest places

On my way down to the train tonight, I could feel the lead in my legs. It was a particularly cold day in San Francisco that brought wind, rain and even snow to the outer lying East Bay where I reside. I walked down the stairs and as I turned the corner, down the corridor to the train station a solitary violinist played the most amazing song. I looked up for a minute and stopped to hear him play. The notes bounced around me and echoed down the corridor greeting the tired masses crowding into the station. It wasn't a bad day or anything, just busy with people and tasks and such. See, that's what I love about the city. When you least expect it, something beautiful falls at your feet and just makes you smile. It's a sidewalk musician, or the sun setting over the ferry building. It's a glimpse into perfection for just a second that makes me remember why this place has really grown on me. I looked into my bag and fished out my pathetic little wallet. God knows the holidays have made me broke as hell, but I felt an obligation to drop at least a buck in his case. I found one and walked to the case and dropped my donation. He nodded a thank you to which I replied, "No, thank you."

Damn it Elvis!

I wanted to be bitter and not be in the Christmas spirit. You see, I've worked in various aspects of retail for the past 10 years and the Christmas spirit has been all but beaten out of me. I don't like all the hoopla. Cranky kids, bitchy shoppers, rude people shoving and pushing in the stores drives me insane.

Oh but today, Elvis was singing "I'll Have a Blue Christmas." I wanted to be pissy but that velvetey Elvis melted my black little heart. Damn, he's good.