The Queen
My colleague, Fat'n'happy, was telling me about his weekend in Napa, but the thing that really caught my attention was his account of coming back to the city. Apparently the very few miles between the Marin headlands and San Francisco were practically impassable. The bridge was jammed with people and cars.
What could be causing this hubbub, you say? Well it turns out that the assembled crowds were there to watch the SS Queen Mary 2 pulling into San Francisco Harbor. I was fairly surprised by the public reaction. While it is, in fact, "a Big Boat", it is nevertheless competing with all the things that occupy the modern city dweller. In fact, it seems to me that going down to the Marina or the headlands to watch a ship come in is the absolute emblem of the late 19th-early 20th century. Then I could see San Franciscans streaming down to vantage points to watch this symbol of foreign climes. But now, it's anachronistic and quaint. Nevertheless, there's a part of me that finds that charming and strangely soothing.
Comments
I myself love anachronistic and quaint. I think it speaks to an unfulfilled longing in most people for a slower pace of life. Or maybe they just really like boats.
Posted by: Miriam | February 8, 2007 12:52 PM
You're right it does speak to some unfulfilled longings although I am not sure how reasonable they are. The thing is that nostalgia for nostalgia leads people to idealize things/places they would never have tolerated or enjoyed had they been there for the first time around. On the other hand maybe I am just a crotchety old bastard.
Posted by: Lo Fat Mo | February 8, 2007 4:54 PM
I was dissappointed that there was not a jumper holding up traffic in Fat'n'happy's story. As he drove by, maybe he could have shouted some words of encouragement/discouragement to the depressed individual. I've always wanted to yell at a jumper to "Hurry up and do it already." I know that's sick, but they are just so self-centered. Holding up traffic for hours because they can't bring themselves to take that one step.
I can't believe people would spend their day standing around waiting for a big boat to come in. Can you even get a good picture of a person in front of a boat that size? Either it would be far away, or just a small portion of the boat. Maybe a panorama shot would get a better picture.
Posted by: Houchens | February 9, 2007 1:14 AM
Um. Yes.
Posted by: Miriam | February 9, 2007 3:34 PM
Ah Houchens you big softie.
Posted by: Lo Fat Mo | February 12, 2007 10:58 AM
Although I was oblivious to the arrival of the Queen Mary II, my boyfriend was not. At his insistance, we left Oakland, and braved the SF Embarcadero traffic to watch her come into the bay. "It's only supposed to clear the golden gate bridge by a foot or two. If they miscalculated, and the bridge comes down, I want to be there!" was his explanation.
There were hoards of people there. And the ship was HUGE! It dwarfed all the otherwise large-seeming containerships. It was neat, we got pictures, we went home, and I can say I was there.
Posted by: Sasha | February 19, 2007 11:11 PM
So that's who went out there to see it!
Posted by: Lo Fat Mo | February 20, 2007 4:41 PM