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It's a Wonderful Life
Jan. 31st, 2004 09:05 pmRecovery from Drunken Fiesta complete. Entire night a wonderful experience. The Li Po bar in Chinatown is a real find, and now one of my favorite spots. Ditto the hole-in-the-wall Bau Bau bar, and The Empress of China restaurant, a lost-in-time '50s-style ornate dining room (accessed by special elevator) complete with emerald-jacketed waiters, an awesome view of Coit Tower and the San Francisco bay, and an appropriately dark and atmospheric cocktail lounge. The waiting area for the lift to the dining room is filled with photos of dignitaries who have eaten there, including Herb Caen, Ricardo Montalban, Jackie Chan, and Chuck Norris, among many others. Amazing.
Even better, remnants of the recent Chinese New Year celebrations (now entering year of the Monkey) were still evident from a string of carnival attractions - shooting galleries, ring toss, dart games, all run by actual carnies - filling a alley between the main Chinatown drags and the adjoining park. One tent filled with ancient video games was presided over a fellow - I kid you not - sitting in a cage, from which you had to ask for change. I'm here to tell you that the image of carnies as people with missing teeth is not a stereotype. The whole thing was gloriously seedy, and I have a souvenir stuffed dog to commemorate the experience, as well as other presents from my coworkers, including an "office in a box" collection of photo scrapbook supplies and paper journals, tasty Japanese snack crackers, a "friendship" necklace, and a psychedelic light-up picture of Jesus, acquired in San Francisco's Mission. This last item I love so much I may need an entire gallery of religious light-up images. (No, I'm not aetheist or particularly blashphemous - I just appreciate the wonder of a really stunning devotional image.)
But what was most amazing about the entire night was how I felt so... appreciated by everyone. My coworkers organized the entire evening, and a large group appeared to say their farewells. The company president showed up. Karaoke songs were dedicated. It was...
Okay, I'm not going to say more because it gets mushy and maybe a little nauseating to people who weren't there. But hearing people tell you that you mattered to them, and that you've made a difference... that's...
I love these people.
Even better, remnants of the recent Chinese New Year celebrations (now entering year of the Monkey) were still evident from a string of carnival attractions - shooting galleries, ring toss, dart games, all run by actual carnies - filling a alley between the main Chinatown drags and the adjoining park. One tent filled with ancient video games was presided over a fellow - I kid you not - sitting in a cage, from which you had to ask for change. I'm here to tell you that the image of carnies as people with missing teeth is not a stereotype. The whole thing was gloriously seedy, and I have a souvenir stuffed dog to commemorate the experience, as well as other presents from my coworkers, including an "office in a box" collection of photo scrapbook supplies and paper journals, tasty Japanese snack crackers, a "friendship" necklace, and a psychedelic light-up picture of Jesus, acquired in San Francisco's Mission. This last item I love so much I may need an entire gallery of religious light-up images. (No, I'm not aetheist or particularly blashphemous - I just appreciate the wonder of a really stunning devotional image.)
But what was most amazing about the entire night was how I felt so... appreciated by everyone. My coworkers organized the entire evening, and a large group appeared to say their farewells. The company president showed up. Karaoke songs were dedicated. It was...
Okay, I'm not going to say more because it gets mushy and maybe a little nauseating to people who weren't there. But hearing people tell you that you mattered to them, and that you've made a difference... that's...
I love these people.
