You Know You're a San Franciscan...
One can only be a native by being born here but just as anyone can become an American, anyone can become a San Franciscan. I think that most of us realize almost immediately when we arrive here and discover that we've finally found our 'home.'
(This idea made it into Leah Garchik's SF Chronicle column today but she didn't add one, guess I'll have to nag her)
I always loved Herb Caen's: When you move to Kansas City, live there for 5 years, and still curb your wheels.
What follows is a list of answers from my FB profile and from a query sent out to my SF City Lovers mailgroup. Feel free to add your own in the comments section. (I won't censor but I reserve the right to edit typos and misspellings)
Stannous Flouride ~You think of it as 'coming home' when you return from visiting your home town. (looking at you Michelle D)
Sabyl Myers ~When someone says"Frisco" and you say "where?"
Joshua Bruner ~You wish for laned sidewalks: one side for locals, one side for tourists.
Mark Q. Midgett ~You can glide thru a crowd effortlessly and get a drink from a bartender when its 5 deep to the bar.
Kasey Lee ~You have more than one piece of furniture or artwork that was a street score.
Amy Minasian ~Your neighbor, whose motorcycle you accidentally knocked over, has you drop off the repair check at the corner head shop. (Or maybe that's a "you know you live in the Haight when" entry...)
Douglas Proulx ~You see a S.F.landmark in a film and feel a sense of connectedness. Then think, how can you get from the Mission to Twin Peaks that fast?
Victoria Kelly ~The bus drivers have given you a nickname, the corner store gives you credit between checks, and random neighbors you don't know by name hand you money and trust that you'll come back with their forty oz...
Ron Equality Avila ~When "going home" means staying right here.
Mary Giuffrida ~You carry a sweater AND a jacket when it is 95 degrees, just in case...
Mary Giuffrida ~Oh, you remember before there were 510 and 650 area codes. You remember when there were NO restaurants in the Mission; just Bruno's and Miz Brown's Kitchen. You remember the Doggie Diner and the Deaf Club.
Gretchen Davis ~You or someone you know owns a hand built bike.
Georgia J. Llewellyn ~The Cable Car gripman knows your first name, where you live and what time you go to and get off work.
Abby Miller ~When a homeless guy shits on your stoop? Haha, I'm certified then!
Alison Saylor ~You see a man riding a unicycle wearing a viking helmet, a pink tutu and cowboy boots and you say to him 'nice bike!'
Jonathan Thaler ~You see a man riding a unicycle wearing a viking helmet, a pink tutu and cowboy boots and it's your CPA or your urologist.
Zannie Alvarez ~You drive to another city to go to the DMV because it's faster that way.
(This idea made it into Leah Garchik's SF Chronicle column today but she didn't add one, guess I'll have to nag her)
I always loved Herb Caen's: When you move to Kansas City, live there for 5 years, and still curb your wheels.
What follows is a list of answers from my FB profile and from a query sent out to my SF City Lovers mailgroup. Feel free to add your own in the comments section. (I won't censor but I reserve the right to edit typos and misspellings)
Stannous Flouride ~You think of it as 'coming home' when you return from visiting your home town. (looking at you Michelle D)
Sabyl Myers ~When someone says"Frisco" and you say "where?"
Joshua Bruner ~You wish for laned sidewalks: one side for locals, one side for tourists.
Mark Q. Midgett ~You can glide thru a crowd effortlessly and get a drink from a bartender when its 5 deep to the bar.
Kasey Lee ~You have more than one piece of furniture or artwork that was a street score.
Amy Minasian ~Your neighbor, whose motorcycle you accidentally knocked over, has you drop off the repair check at the corner head shop. (Or maybe that's a "you know you live in the Haight when" entry...)
Douglas Proulx ~You see a S.F.landmark in a film and feel a sense of connectedness. Then think, how can you get from the Mission to Twin Peaks that fast?
Victoria Kelly ~The bus drivers have given you a nickname, the corner store gives you credit between checks, and random neighbors you don't know by name hand you money and trust that you'll come back with their forty oz...
Ron Equality Avila ~When "going home" means staying right here.
Mary Giuffrida ~You carry a sweater AND a jacket when it is 95 degrees, just in case...
Mary Giuffrida ~Oh, you remember before there were 510 and 650 area codes. You remember when there were NO restaurants in the Mission; just Bruno's and Miz Brown's Kitchen. You remember the Doggie Diner and the Deaf Club.
Gretchen Davis ~You or someone you know owns a hand built bike.
Georgia J. Llewellyn ~The Cable Car gripman knows your first name, where you live and what time you go to and get off work.
Abby Miller ~When a homeless guy shits on your stoop? Haha, I'm certified then!
Alison Saylor ~You see a man riding a unicycle wearing a viking helmet, a pink tutu and cowboy boots and you say to him 'nice bike!'
Jonathan Thaler ~You see a man riding a unicycle wearing a viking helmet, a pink tutu and cowboy boots and it's your CPA or your urologist.
Zannie Alvarez ~You drive to another city to go to the DMV because it's faster that way.
Arthur Bierman ~You know you're a San Franciscan if, in the USA or abroad, you feel offended when you hear someone reply to "Where are you from?" with "San Francisco" and you know they live in Mill Valley.
Gretchen Davis ~You or someone you know owns a hand built bike.
Georgia J Llewellyn ~The Cable Car gripman knows your first name, where you live and what time you go to and get off work.
Pam Brennan ~When you bring soup and a blanket to a homeless person and they used to be your neighbor.
Chris Dichtel ~Someone tells you that if you've lived here more than ten years you can call yourself a native, and you just stare back at them.
Jonathan Dearborn ~When you stop caring whether or not other people think you're a San Franciscan. It just is "HOME".
Mary Pacini ~"Coming home" even after living on the east coast for 50 years. An electrical buzz when I hit San Francisco turf.
Will Walker ~It's 45 degrees out and people are freaking out about how cold it is.
Michelle Donovan ~You look out your window to see the beautiful gray day that awaits you and see a street kid pissing!
Dida Kutz ~When you move to Monterey (6 yrs now) and think everyone is brain-dead.
Ingrid Gläser ~When you read all of these comments and realize you could have written all of them...(or were going to write some of them...)
Richard Bagguely ~You feel at home in a monastery.
Gretchen Davis ~You or someone you know owns a hand built bike.
Georgia J Llewellyn ~The Cable Car gripman knows your first name, where you live and what time you go to and get off work.
Pam Brennan ~When you bring soup and a blanket to a homeless person and they used to be your neighbor.
Chris Dichtel ~Someone tells you that if you've lived here more than ten years you can call yourself a native, and you just stare back at them.
Jonathan Dearborn ~When you stop caring whether or not other people think you're a San Franciscan. It just is "HOME".
Mary Pacini ~"Coming home" even after living on the east coast for 50 years. An electrical buzz when I hit San Francisco turf.
Will Walker ~It's 45 degrees out and people are freaking out about how cold it is.
Michelle Donovan ~You look out your window to see the beautiful gray day that awaits you and see a street kid pissing!
Dida Kutz ~When you move to Monterey (6 yrs now) and think everyone is brain-dead.
Ingrid Gläser ~When you read all of these comments and realize you could have written all of them...(or were going to write some of them...)
Richard Bagguely ~You feel at home in a monastery.
posted by Stannous Flouride at 11:39 PM
2 Comments:
When you say Frisco, and someone says "San Franciscans don't call it 'Frisco'" and act all offended and you realize they heard somewhere that you're SUPPOSED to not call it Frisco if you live there, and you realize they're faking it. Eat me, I'm from FRISCO. I miss Jim Gabbert's TV20 movie from the Sleazy Arms Bar and Grill. I miss the vats. I miss Poly-Tech. I miss The Farm. I miss Powell Street punx. I miss drinking at a bar at age 15 w/ Winston Smith who introduces you to Frank Discussion. I miss getting off work at 9am New Years morning, walking over to Vesuvio's and ending up drinking w/ Hunter S. Thompson and Paul Kantner until 1pm. I miss asking for a light from some old paper skinned well suited gent and realizing it's William S. Burroughs.
I miss sitting on my stairs on Lassat St between Webster and Buchanan and drinking, and knowing full well your neighbors are running a chop-shop and are dangerous dudes, who respectfully refer to YOU as 'Trouble'. lol...
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