The Place Where I Left My Heart

I didn't think I'd love San Francisco. I truly did not. I do not handle stress very well, and this is a crowded, stressful city. I was nervous about the drive and finding my way, and put a lot of faith in the borrowed GPS (which, by the way, is extremely fallible.)

If one is travelling from the direction I was, you get a momentary experience that is deeply stirring. Though my travel north, I noticed the landscape change from the brown and flat land of the valley, to deep rolling green hills covered in windmills and cows, to little cities tucked into creases in the land. California became more beautiful the farther I traveled from Fresno. Then, in an instant that will remain always in my mind's eye, I came over the crest of a hill just after dusk and before for a brief moment spread all of the bay and San Francisco in it's breathtaking glory. The water of the bay was a deep electric blue, the bay bridge strands of holiday lights dangling in perfect order across the watery sky, the city itself a pulsing heart tucked into the rolling breast of God himself.  In that instant I stopped breathing and couldn't tear my eyes away.

It was, however, a fiasco to find my way to the University of San Francisco dorms amongst peculiar one-way streets and steep hills. I arrived extremely late, had a difficult time locating it and trying to get it (they were locked up!) and lugging my stuff up there, and once I was actually settled in it was almost 11:00PM! The San Francisco Ballet summer program was hosted there, and I had to wait for a crowd of under-developed 13-year-olds to pick up their mail at the front desk before I could get a key to my room.  It's been years since I've lived in a dorm, and even then the CSUN dorms were apartment-like, so it was a unique experience for me.

The classes... I really don't know what to say to accurately describe the experience. This sounds like a vast hyperbole and it is, but the only description that I can conjure up is life-altering. Seriously. This class touched on a passion that was hiding deep inside. I may want a practice that specializes in this; I am interested in even becoming a doula. We learned SO MUCH about pregnancy, how to treat a pregnant woman, providing labor support, and working with a post-partum and post- c-section client. I had NO. IDEA. that there was SO MUCH that a therapist can do for someone. NO. IDEA. There is SO much more than I ever dreamed I was able to do for a client. I cannot even describe these classes. I value my profession so much more now, loved the new techniques that I learned (hell, I'd never even heard of most of these techniques!) and now have a whole new perspective of the human body, especially in pregnancy. The class was super intense, but was excellent, and I had a great time. Kate Jordan is amazing and was a wonderful teacher. And that's as much of a description as I am going to attempt- I don't think I can convey the currents of passion running through me.

On a side note, now that I am far more educated on pregnancy and the physiological changes, I am more convinced than ever that women were made to give birth naturally, unless medically contraindicated. And now I'm going to be certified to help them do it! PUMPED!

The most exciting thing to me about this career I have chosen is that there is no end to what I can learn. Like this strain counter-strain technique that I was introduced to this weekend- AMAZING! I can take classes and get certified in dozens of techniques if I want, and not only do I love it, but I will just keep adding tools to my toolbox and become a better therapist.

There were thirteen in the class (one male) and only three of us who stayed in the dorms; the others were from the area. Me, the guy who was from LA, and a woman in her early 40's who flew in from Kentucky of all places! On the first day, Kate gave us all a list and map of places to eat in the immediate area on our lunch breaks. The class got friendly right away (hard not to when you take your clothes off for someone the first day you meet them,) and we went on walks to neighborhood eateries to try middle-Eastern cuisine and cafeteria food on various days. At night, after looooooong days in class, the three of us in the dorms decided to try various San Fran cuisine.

Every night we asked the dorm advisor for a recommendation. The first night we were sent to Georgio's, a little and superb Italian place close by. The second night we walked to Haight St. (super fun neighborhood!) and ate Spanish food and drank sangria at Cha Cha Cha, then walked back waaaaaay up the hill. Saturday night, the guy decided to get a massage himself, so Ms. Kentucky and I went to a trendy Thai fusion place on the Embarcadero. We had a blast getting lost on the confusing SF streets, seeing the distinct districts and neighborhoods.

The city is built upon absurdly steep hills. Truly, truly absurd. Until you're there, you don't realize what the hills are really like. But that's part of the charm. From the second I exited the freeway to the moment I left, I was in awe of the architecture and infrastructure of the place. I kept exclaiming "It's so San Francisco!" Victorian homes with bay windows butted up to one another, beautiful sculptures and tall buildings crammed together- the place is breathtaking with a strange beauty. Even though the city is crowded and surprisingly small, it doesn't feel that way and there is no lack of outdoor space. The hills around you are green and there are parks galore, not to mention the surrounding beaches. Despite the steep hills that nearly killed me, it seemed that all of the natives were walking or biking everywhere they went (I didn't see a single fat person while I was there!) The culture up there seems to be more open to holistic health in general, and I could see the difference. And, most surprisingly, it was super clean!

We kept remarking on the weather. The area is known for its foggy mornings in the summer that burns off to a mild sunny day. It was sooooo niiiiice to be there, and icky to come back to 105! In the morning, walking a few [steep] blocks away to a coffee shop, I savored the cool wind through my sweater. I felt healthy and alive. I thought for sure the cool weather would wreak havok on my hair. I don't know how it was even possible, but San Francisco loved my curly hair! It dried into these perfect light ringlets that lasted all day, and I've never gotten more compliments on it. Was it the fresh air? The water? Who cares, I was in curl heaven! 

Being there, with other therapists who have passion for the profession, was so uplifting. I really needed it. Being a part of a community like that fed my desire to learn, and it was nice to see how many different roads therapists can choose to take and ask how they did it without fear of competition. I cannot wait to be done with school.

I miss the city. I didn't know I would love it so much. Earlier today I scouted apartments in SF online, and it made my stomach drop- $1,700+/month for a STUDIO?! Yikes.

Maybe someday!