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In a spirit of hospitality, I took them downtown for lunch, after which we browsed in chic shops for home accessories, and salons featuring designer clothing for men, women, and children. None of the many antique shops were missed. In all of the shops, clerks pleasantly greeted me by name as I introduced my friends, who were thoroughly amazed at the perky and unusual vocal theatrics wielded by the employees. "You never see THAT in San Francisco," whispered Frances, "in fact, you are doing well if you get a mumbled thank you from anyone."
Meandering farther down the cobbled sidewalk, we soon stopped in a bakery for delicious samples of French pastries. A while later, to rest our tired dogs, we stopped at a quaint little side-walk cafe and enjoyed a cup of Starbuck's wonderful Cappuccino. Here, we were serenaded by a wandering accordionist with a monkey on his shoulder.
My friends were in awe at the mature white blooming Dogwood Trees lining Main Street, up and down on both sides, like so many Angels in procession. Azaleas all but obscured the curbing, while tulips and daffodiles stood proudly as if saluting the passersby.
We came to a vendor selling boiled peanuts. Frances stopped to sample one. The vendor, Georges by name, gave her two bags after apparently having convinced her that boiled peanuts were, after all, better than commercially salted peanuts.
The next day, my friends departed for the Coast and one of my favorite cities. As their plane disappeared into the empyrean-like heights, I found myself humming that wonderful song made famous by Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett--I Left my Heart in San Francisco.
Five years have passed since their visit. Four years ago, Frances moved to South Carolina. Last week, we sat at the same side-walk cafe. I smiled to myself as I noted that her Valley Girl accent, as long and thick as a loaf of San Francisco sour dough bread, had not changed, but like many Northerners and Westerners who've moved below the Mason-Dixon line, she had become Southernized. Why? How? I think it has something to do with--friendliness.
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