The watercolor above is painted on the cover of a dinner menu from a cruise ship that sailed between San Francisco & Hawai’i on a warm evening - 70 degrees, according to records - in late October, 1960. I found the menu in an antique shop in the Sierra foothills near Nevada City & brought it home to SF last month. What’s remarkable is that ‘home’ here is the very same neighborhood block depicted in the painting.
If somehow I could be on the boat that night… cafe espresso served in the smoking room from 8 to 10 after dark, Omar Khayyam quotations on the wine list, fresh pastry & a compote of purple plums for dessert. Ah, but we have only one life to live! & I am 31 today.
