Castro Street Station

I had been meaning to jot this down for a while. To remember my random observations, I routinely scribble notes on various scraps of paper (rescued from the bottom of my purse…sparing them the disgrace of being coated with the inevitable chewing gum & lipstick, only to wind up in the bin…destiny unfulfilled).

This morning, I found one of these notes (this time on a Walgreen’s receipt). I remember this particular time…it was a long wait at the bus stop at Castro & Market. Instead of being annoyed (shocker), I chose instead to marvel at my surroundings.

Since I can’t remember exactly the emotion I felt at seeing each of these, I will instead make a list of some of the things I saw from this one particular spot:

• Suited ladies in tennis shoes
• Mothers pushing baby carriages
• Rows of majestic houses
• Tourists snapping photos
• Bicyclists in suits
• Historical streetcars driving alongside the modern vehicles
• People holding signs soliciting for money
• Travelers with luggage
• Beautiful old theater
• Big dogs carrying their toys in their mouths
• Little dogs in sweaters
• People carrying groceries
• Green cabs, blue cabs, yellow cabs
• Maze of cable overhead
• High-heeled flip flops
• Adult shops
• Myriad of electronic devices
• Man in skirt carrying dozens of balloons

The capper to this 15 minutes of my life was a very heartwarming event that actually choked me up a little…ok, a lot. In the middle of all the madness that I have listed above, I witnessed a huge burly police officer walk up to a tiny little disabled man. The cop was attired exactly like a beat cop from the movies – very tall, big hat, billy club, etc. The little man was hunched over his walker & was making very slow progress up the street. The officer walked right up to him, put his hand lightly on the man’s shoulder & sincerely exchanged pleasantries with him. This was sweet in & of itself, but when I noticed the cop leaning over & buttoning the man’s cardigan sweater, I had to avert my eyes.

Gosh dangit I love this City.

are you there my queen?

jokelly3000: hello
jokelly3000: how are you doing
jokelly3000: i am kelly

charleneshouse: I am betty

jokelly3000: that is kool
jokelly3000: hope all things are fine with you
jokelly3000: i like pic
jokelly3000: lol
jokelly3000: how is today
jokelly3000: i am kelly johnson

charleneshouse: ok

jokelly3000: looking for serious soulmate
jokelly3000: what about you?
jokelly3000: married?

charleneshouse: are you going to ask me to accept cash for your business venture?

jokelly3000: nope i am not that type
jokelly3000: all that iam looking for a serious relationship?
jokelly3000: so what about that?

charleneshouse: are you a man
charleneshouse: or a woman
charleneshouse: or both?

jokelly3000: i am man
jokelly3000: u?
jokelly3000: woman?

charleneshouse: I am now

jokelly3000: okey
jokelly3000: i am a single man serious looking for someone that can love me and live with me for that rest for my life on earth
jokelly3000: i am heartbreaking
jokelly3000: and i dont want such again in life

charleneshouse: wow

jokelly3000: that is why i am here to looking for someone that understand me

charleneshouse: you are heartbreaking?

jokelly3000: yes
jokelly3000: and that is hell

charleneshouse: wow, that’s really depressing

jokelly3000: i hope you can understand
jokelly3000: so i need someone that can love me
jokelly3000: so tell me about yourself a little
jokelly3000: are you there?
jokelly3000: are you married?
jokelly3000: <ding>

charleneshouse: sorry, I had to go drink some whiskey
charleneshouse: because you depressed me so much

jokelly3000: why?
jokelly3000: and how ?

charleneshouse: I used to be married

jokelly3000: i am sorry?

charleneshouse: but my husband left me

jokelly3000: really?

charleneshouse: for another woman

jokelly3000: why?
jokelly3000: badman

charleneshouse: yes
charleneshouse: he said I was too ugly

jokelly3000: oh that is bad?

charleneshouse: and too old

jokelly3000: very bad

charleneshouse: wait, are you saying I am ugly?!

jokelly3000: i am sorry my queen for that
jokelly3000: really no my queen

charleneshouse: are you saying I an queen sized?!

jokelly3000: see what i see is that person inside no what it look like
jokelly3000: the person of the heart matter in love and life

charleneshouse: he said I was even uglier inside

jokelly3000: he dont know what he has then
jokelly3000: so tell me can you allow me to love you my queen?
jokelly3000: he left you but now i am here for you
jokelly3000: only if you can really love me as a black man in your life i will love you until my end of my life
jokelly3000: think about it ?
jokelly3000: i am serious

charleneshouse: you are?

jokelly3000: very serious
jokelly3000: i swear with jehovah name?

charleneshouse: jehovah?

jokelly3000: i need a wife,soulmate,my queen ,my life

charleneshouse: is that your dad?

jokelly3000: my everything
jokelly3000: no that is a name of God
jokelly3000: my dad name is johnson
jokelly3000: so i am kelly johnson
jokelly3000: what i means is that i swear with God’s name that iam serious

charleneshouse: isn’t that a girl’s name?

jokelly3000: no
jokelly3000: jehovah is a name of God
jokelly3000: are you a christain?

charleneshouse: yes, I am a holy roller
charleneshouse: that means I like to sing & dance
charleneshouse: and holler

jokelly3000: that ios good
jokelly3000: so tell me about your self my queen?

charleneshouse: I like to collect precious moments figurines
charleneshouse: and bake mock apple pies

jokelly3000: lol
jokelly3000: that is nice
jokelly3000: i am a computer engineer

charleneshouse: shocker
charleneshouse: I mean…”how nice”

jokelly3000: i work as employ
jokelly3000: so where are you from?
jokelly3000: what do you mean my shocker?

charleneshouse: nothing

jokelly3000: really

charleneshouse: where are you from?

jokelly3000: so where are you frommy queen?

charleneshouse: I am from the U S of A

jokelly3000: really that is nice

charleneshouse: do you like kids?

jokelly3000: but can i ask you some thing?

charleneshouse: ok

jokelly3000: really i like kids but that depend onmy queen
jokelly3000: i dont know if she want

charleneshouse: well, I already got 3 of em

jokelly3000: really that is nice
jokelly3000: are they with you??
jokelly3000: do you still want more?
jokelly3000: or that is okey by you my queen
jokelly3000: if that is okey that is not a problem with me
jokelly3000: i am single

charleneshouse: they live with their dads right now

jokelly3000: all that i need is love
jokelly3000: that is okey

charleneshouse: isn’t that a song?

jokelly3000: so you live alone?
jokelly3000: no i am serious
jokelly3000: life is not about kids is about ourself,our love and God

charleneshouse: I live with my 3 cats, 2 dogs, 6 chickens & the rabbit

jokelly3000: that is great i love that

charleneshouse: my apartment is kind of small
charleneshouse: and I have no yard
charleneshouse: but we do ok

jokelly3000: that does matter my queen?

charleneshouse: does it?

jokelly3000: so my queen
jokelly3000: i look to me that i am falling in love with you

charleneshouse: how old are you?

jokelly3000: remember that age not love
jokelly3000: iam 34
jokelly3000: u?

charleneshouse: I am 47 years young

jokelly3000: when you grow old i can care and make u happy

charleneshouse: which is why I can’t have more babies
charleneshouse: thats why I have all my pets

jokelly3000: i really understand you my queen

charleneshouse: they are my babies

jokelly3000: lol

charleneshouse: and they all sleep in bed with me

jokelly3000: you are wonderful
jokelly3000: i feel you my queen

charleneshouse: except sometimes I eat the chickens

jokelly3000: but soon i believe if you really love me and accept me as your next souolmate i will sleep with you in that bed

charleneshouse: uh oh…I gotta go…the police are here again

jokelly3000: why?
jokelly3000: what are they looking?
jokelly3000: why?
jokelly3000: what are they looking?
jokelly3000: how do i get you my queen
jokelly3000: <ding>
jokelly3000: are you there my queen
jokelly3000: talk with me if you are that plz

it mean a beautiful ladie

jeffcutter101: hello beauty,how re u doing?well u might be wondering who is this guy,well pardon me if i sound stupid, but can u tell me the meaning of love the feelings u get knowing that someone somewhere is thinking about u ,Love is not about finding the right person, but creating a right relationship. It’s not about how much love you have in the beginning but how much love you build till the end,Some say love is life, but love without hope and faith is an agonizing death.The greatest ironies of life: having the right person at the wrong time, having the wrong person when the time is right, and finding out that you love someone after that person walks out of your sight ..plz honey take a time to find that special person..and do me the honour of knowing u ….

Charlene Evans: huh?

jeffcutter101: hello
jeffcutter101: how re u doing?
jeffcutter101: am mark
jeffcutter101: and u?

Charlene Evans: I am ok

jeffcutter101: am mark
jeffcutter101: and u?

Charlene Evans: i am betty

jeffcutter101: nice meeting u betty

Charlene Evans: is your name really mark?

jeffcutter101: yeah

Charlene Evans: what is jeffcutter?

jeffcutter101: that my dad name
jeffcutter101: so i’m useing my dad name on here but my real name is mark

Charlene Evans: how old are you?

jeffcutter101: 40

Charlene Evans: your dad must be really old

jeffcutter101: yeah but his no more

Charlene Evans: why don’t you get your own?

jeffcutter101: my what

Charlene Evans: your own yahoo id

jeffcutter101: this is my id i just use my dad name
jeffcutter101: are u there?

Charlene Evans: no

jeffcutter101: and where are u?
jeffcutter101: why no

Charlene Evans: I am not here

jeffcutter101: so where re u?
jeffcutter101: busy?

Charlene Evans: where are you?

jeffcutter101: i’m here
jeffcutter101: u re not talking

Charlene Evans: where is here?

jeffcutter101: tell me about babe

Charlene Evans: babe?

jeffcutter101: it mean a beautiful ladie

Charlene Evans: where do you live?

jeffcutter101: i’m from tn but now in uk

Charlene Evans: why are you in UK?

jeffcutter101: manchester
jeffcutter101: centre london

Charlene Evans: I asked why you are in UK

jeffcutter101: ok
jeffcutter101: on contract

Charlene Evans: on contract doing what?
Charlene Evans: are you afraid to say?
Charlene Evans: it’s ok…I only work at Burger King

jeffcutter101: a freind of mine was giving a contract to design an hotel so he invit me me to join him

Charlene Evans: do you ever go to Burger King?
Charlene Evans: we make hamburgers

jeffcutter101: no

Charlene Evans: and french fries
Charlene Evans: and milk shakes
Charlene Evans: do you like milk shakes?

jeffcutter101: yeah

Charlene Evans: me too

jeffcutter101: so where are u now

Charlene Evans: home
Charlene Evans: I live with my mom
Charlene Evans: she is making dinner

jeffcutter101: ok
jeffcutter101: so tell more about u

Charlene Evans: I like horses
Charlene Evans: and ponies
Charlene Evans: and stallions
Charlene Evans: and my favorite color is brown
Charlene Evans: like horses

jeffcutter101: that nice
jeffcutter101: are u single?

Charlene Evans: what do you mean by single
Charlene Evans: I am not married

jeffcutter101: are u marreid?

Charlene Evans: but I have lots of boyfriends
Charlene Evans: I like for them to buy me things
Charlene Evans: do you want to buy me things?

jeffcutter101: and what ur age?

Charlene Evans: I am 45
Charlene Evans: and a half
Charlene Evans: why does is say your name is peter john?

jeffcutter101: can u see my pic

Charlene Evans: no
Charlene Evans: I don’t see well
Charlene Evans: I have a glass eye

jeffcutter101: add me up to ur list

Charlene Evans: I don’t know how

jeffcutter101: click on add

Charlene Evans: add what?

jeffcutter101: u will see it before igore

Charlene Evans: i don’t understand

jeffcutter101: add me up to ur list

Charlene Evans: who is peter john?

jeffcutter101: that my name

Charlene Evans: you said your name is mark

jeffcutter101: my middle name is peter john
jeffcutter101: and my first name is mark

Charlene Evans: that’s a lot of names

jeffcutter101: yeah and i love it

Charlene Evans: I don’t
Charlene Evans: it’s too hard to remember

jeffcutter101: oh

Charlene Evans: I forgot my name sometimes

jeffcutter101: ok u call me mark ok

Charlene Evans: but that’s because I smoke so much crack

jeffcutter101: oh

Charlene Evans: crack is whack

jeffcutter101: can i see ur real pic

Charlene Evans: NO!
Charlene Evans: I can’t
Charlene Evans: I am hiding from my boyfriend

jeffcutter101: why?
jeffcutter101: ok

Charlene Evans: he is mad because I took his car

jeffcutter101: so what do u want in a man

Charlene Evans: a nice car
Charlene Evans: and lots of money
Charlene Evans: LOTS of money

jeffcutter101: why?

Charlene Evans: money money money
Charlene Evans: so I can buy more crack

jeffcutter101: why?

Charlene Evans: CRACK IS WHACK CRACK IS WHACK CRACK IS WHACK

jeffcutter101: how much

Charlene Evans: thousands
Charlene Evans: and hundreds
Charlene Evans: and tens
Charlene Evans: and billions
Charlene Evans: CRACK IS WHACK CRACK IS WHACK CRACK IS WHACK

jeffcutter101: can u send me some?

Charlene Evans: I gotta go smoke some more crack
Charlene Evans: BETTY NEVER SHARES HER CRACK

jeffcutter101: ok send me some money

Charlene Evans: NO – YOU SEND BETTY MONEY
Charlene Evans: BETTY MONEY BETTY MONEY BETTY MONEY BETTY MONEY BETTY MONEY BETTY MONEY BETTY MONEY
Charlene Evans: betty
Charlene Evans: money

jeffcutter101: ok