If you're going to San Francisco Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair If you're going to San Francisco You're gonna meet some gentle people there...
Songwriters: John Edmund Andrew Phillips
Life is full of moments [see photo] like those I have enjoyed in San Francisco over the years. Riding on the Cable Cars, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, a cruise on the harbour, meals down at Fisherman's Wharf, etc. But there is one moment that stands out above all the rest.
This time in San Fran I am with a friend Jeff and we are walking back to our hotel after a great meal in Chinatown. It is a mild evening and so we are enjoying a leisurely stroll. Not unexpectedly perhaps I am approached by a man and a women asking for money. I stop to listen to his pitch. Both these people are grubby in appearance and are clearly living rough. He says he is on his way to take up a new job and he needs $US 6.70 for petrol. He is very engaging while not completely convincing but he has a hook that gets me. He tells me, and then convinces me, that he will get this loan back to me. How can that possibly happen? He did not care to explain and I did not press him on his plans. Meanwhile I am being tugged at by Jeff who wants us to get on our way. I pause for a moment and then pull out $US 20 from my wallet which I give to him as I wish him "good luck".
Jeff and I walked on in silence for a minute or so before he begins to ask why I gave that man the money. I reply that I believe he will find a way to return me that money in the next few days. Not only that but he will pay it back with interest. Jeff is incredulous.
Fast forward to the next day. We are in the Napa Valley going from one Winery to another. Our further plan is to join friends in Sacramento for dinner. Along the way we stop at a strip mall of shops to purchase some goodies for our upcoming event. Jeff is inside a shop and I am casually hanging about outside. It happens. I glance down at my feet and there is some folding money just lying on the ground. It is curled-up inside a cashier's docket. I examine the docket however I can not discern the name of the shop. So I unfold this wad of money to find a gift of $US 75. I look up to the sky and in audible exclamation I say "thank you man - you did find a way". Jeff joins me. We laugh and get on with our lives.
Richard
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