Chapter 33, San Francisco, 2015

THIS IS THE KIND OF DAY I MISS

Before school starts, I plan special mommy-daughter joy-filled time with Fliss. She is just old enough to be deeply shaken by Carolyn’s illness. We plan a long weekend in San Francisco. Fliss, her two-year-old Pekingese, Dolly, and I check into a hotel in Union Square. We order veggie burgers from room service and watch the movie Spy. Fliss runs a bubble bath in the oversized tub. The bathroom is as big as Fliss’ bedroom at home, and the thought of this is a thrilling realization. We stay up way too late and fall asleep deeply in the comfort of white high thread count sheets and blackout drapes. The next day we put on our walking shoes and chart our day. First stop, ChinaTown. I point out to Fliss that I never knew there were actual entrance gates to ChinaTown. We walk through the southern entrance, where the gate is inscribed with the words of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, “All under heaven is for the good of the people.” We snap a few pictures. Fliss remarks that Dolly must feel at home since Pekingese are from China. A few stores in, we find tourist memorabilia, pillowcases with whimsical screen print drawings, matching pearl and silver earrings and jade bracelets. Dolly is tired, and we put her in her pink dog carrier bag while walking in search of homemade pasta in Little Italy -just past ChinaTown, North Beach.

We discover a shop on Columbus Avenue with pottery from Deruta, Italy. I have collected this pottery for twenty years, inspired by Marcelle Hazen’s cookbooks and Italian family recipes shared by my cousins through marriage. We tour the shop carefully, using our eyes more than our hands. I love the Orvieto black and white patterned dishes, and the shop owner tells me it’s modeled after the floor of a famous church in Orvieto. “We have to go there, Mom!” Fliss says with enthusiasm. We catch a bus to Ghirardelli Square, where Fliss enjoys one of their famous chocolate sundaes. Dolly, renewed with energy, enjoys a walk on the shore of the bay. We take a long stroll down Pier Row. Dolly rides in a rented stroller (hiding under a blanket) through the Exploratorium.

Fliss and I decide to end the day at the Ferry Building, looking at Heath Pottery, buying gourmet olive oil and Cowgirl Creamery cheese. We polish off two grilled cheese sandwiches at Hog Island Oyster.

“MOM, THIS IS THE BEST DAY!” Fliss exclaims as we begin to head home. It is so terrific to see her full-faced smile. She is truly beaming. We make our way to the bowels of the Pier District and attempt to figure out San Francisco’s subway system. As the stops pass by on our way back to Union Square, the lights flicker on and off, and it hits me that this is the kind of day I miss sharing with my sister. I stroke Fliss’ blonde head. Thank God I have my girl.