Busy Friday morning, returning emails & calls, posting my regular messages/blogs via social sites, a beautiful day and looking forward to seeing my gal for happy hour Sushi afterwork. As always, too much Java and forgetting to eat lunch - when I realized, or I thought I did, I was running late for my appointment. I had to go into the office on Franklin street near Van Ness ave to pick up my sample "Home Buyers handbook" to review. I was feeling good about making the appointment at Starbucks in Daly City in the Westlake shopping mall because the freeway was nearby... as I drove onto the freeway I was immediately hit by traffic - argh! However, I was not in panick mode because I knew to exit off of 101 south bound to 7th street mission and jump right onto 280 south bound. My gut extincts were correct - no traffic. I was thinking or hearing my stomach growl, never-the-less, I was excited about the appointment in revieiwng our 1st time home buyers seminar. When to my surprise, I receive a call, my contact was already there, after going back and forth, we rescheduled our meeting for Monday morning and will review the content over the phone. It all worked out well. And now, I was ready for a late lunch. I was craving for Panda Express on Fillmore street near Japan Center.
I knew there was traffic and decided to take the back roads to Panda Express, so I took the San Jose Ave exit and proceeded up Delores street. I must have driven up Delores street over a thousand times in my life time and it always amazes me how beautiful the homes are and the Palm trees in the middle of the streets. As I drive up the hills, I remember being a kid thinking it was a roller coaster ride when our family would take weekend drives. Descending down to Delores Park, which brings back fond memories as a kid, I remember spinning around mini ferris wheel, falling off and losing my teeth. Then cruising by Mission Delores church - wow - the place where I was baptized, had my 1st Holy Communion, Confirmation, and graduated from. Not to mention one of my sisters wedding was there. As I drove onto Market street towards Hayes Valley, I was in awe of the recent transformation of the area. There were renovated TIC's, Newly built or renovated Condominium's, Tri-plex's and Victorians, as well as Cafe's and restaurants. I noticed a new Japenese restaurant called "Domo's."
Then as I was driving towards Fillmore street, the sight of the St Mary's Cathedral was over head. The highschool my three younger sisters attended. The building architecture is stunning. As I approach Webster street, more renovated Victorian homes and Condo's. Especially the newly built Yoshi's Japanese / Jazz bar. I remember taking the 22 Fillmore bus to visit my dad at Letterman's General Hospital in the Presidio. As I am finally driving into the parking lot, and very hungry. I realized how lucky I was to know short cuts of the city when there are traffic jams.
I feel very fortunate because I have an opportunity to cruise the streets of san francisco for lunch and back to work while showing properties to potential home owners. You will have an opportunity to learn the back roads of the City by the Bay.
Note: my goal at Panda Express was not to order my regular, "Orange Chicken." I decided to go with Mushroom Chicken, but suddenly had buyers remorse because a customer over loaded his plate with orange chicken and sat right in front of me. Needless to say, I enjoyed my meal
Your San Francisco Bay Area Realtor, Jeff De Loyola
