A friend who was visiting from Melbourne, Australia sent out an email blast earlier in the week about getting together to perform a winter solstice ritual. That morning another friend who was going to join me at Ocean Beach, the place we were all asked to meet, wasn't that excited about coming all the way from Oakland to cross the entire length of San Francisco and possibly sit in the freezing rain. By 2:00pm, when she needed to leave Oakland, she was calling to ask me to convince her to come. Which I did. Because I knew she and I both needed it.
So, she came, I picked her up at the Glen Park BART station and we gathered. We were two of fifteen crazy Bay Area folk who agreed to stick it out in the high-speed winds on Ocean Beach. It was so quintessentially San Francisco. Someone went to get wood at Safeway. There were people of all ilks who had something to leave behind and wanted to welcome the solstice and what lay ahead with open arms. Strangers introduced themselves and many of us spent the rest of the evening together. Our will was strong. We laughed. We howled. We (or maybe it was just I) teared up. We held hands and hugged and were giddy.
Something magical happened. Not only did the rain stay away but, the flames held out until after the night officially fell. The waves crashed nearby and the wind whistled through our clothes but, we weren't cold. Everyone had their own story to tell. There aren't many words to describe it but, it left me hopeful and feeling alive. I've had a few moments like this in San Francisco and I remember parts of each one vividly. This moment is no different and I'm thankful for having had it.
No comments:
Post a Comment