Tuesday, March 02, 2004

cult-less

a common site on the streets of san francisco these days is telltale white earphone cords. every time i see them I somehow feel left out, like I am not the member of some strange but pervasive cult thriving in our midst.

it reminds me of a couple ways that I feel that I am not your typical "american." cars and music.

one is that I have no interest in cars. none. tell me you have a porsche and i'll yawn and ask you what books you are reading. occassionally, I'll see a car and think, wow, nice car. they tend to be old old cars, or something like a hybrid. but i don't really care about the car per se. give me a nice bicycle to roll around in anyday. not to say that they have not been useful in my life, or that I don't have one now. but i just don't give a darn. it's been this way since I was a teenager at least. probably since one of my high school coworkers spent most of his time complaining about fixing his car. not the way I want to spend my money.

secondly is -- to the point of this post -- music. do i like music. yes. do i buys cds, listen to the radio, like to go to concerts. no i do not. i do listen to music every once in a while, I do like going to see bands in small cafes and bars, like dancing, like playing music -- but i have no urge, no keen desire to go out and listen to all the latest and greatest. i have no depth of musical knowledge and I don't care. and it's always been that way. don't know why.

my friends will laugh at this and ask, "what about food, adrian. pickles? ketchup? mustard? mayo? peanut butter!?!" and while I will not deny that I abhor those things ( unless the peanut butter is with chocolate ), it is hardly unamerican. or maybe it is. make that 3 things.

voter

i voted yesterday, tramping down to city hall on my lunch hour -- a nice little excursion on a wet, cold and blustery day (no sarcasm intended). the election area wasn't too crowded and I dumped off my ballot nice and quickly.

on the way upstairs, I got to witness a same sex marriage. it made my day. two young tall handsome men, dark pants, white shirts, bedecked with hawaiian leis, clutching roses and each other as they made their way up the stairs. upon the pronouncement they kissed, one suddenly kissing hard and hugging tight, holding onto the moment. the assembled crowd of passerbys and other waiting participants clapped happily.

i'm glad I live in san francisco where that moment is not begrudged.