The Sojourner of San Francisco - 6. LTR/06: No Man Is an Island

FROM: Sojourner

TO: Perfect Stranger

DATE: MAY-23-2019

Dear Stranger,

I went to the Rock! Yup, Alcatraz Island. I had such a wonderful time. The weather was a bit windy, a few lovely cloud and lack of haze giving an incredible panoramic view. Fields of purple Persian carpet were in full bloom, and little pollinators were all bees-knees. It was also the nesting season for many birds here: cormorant, seagulls, and black-crowned night herons. Mama and papa Canada geese and their gooselings walked with me side-by-side as if they wanted to include me in their family stroll. I wish you were there with me, watching them shake their booties as they walk. Haha, that sounds totally wrong.

The prison interior itself was the same as my last visit: gloomy and cold. Lots of visitors staring into oblivion while listening on the audio tour. The solitary confinements were dark and unsurprisingly, felt like pigeonholes. You could peep into the kitchen from the dining hall and see the menu of the day on the wall (they had the same menu ten years ago. :D). I like the fact they had a very small library room. I wonder what kind of books they were reading.

Alcatraz is most famous for being an inescapable penitentiary with high profile prisoners such as Al Capone, the Mafia boss of Chicago in Prohibition period. But do you know 50 years ago, in 1969, 89 American Indians tried to reclaim the decommissioned Alcatraz back as Indian Land. It was a 19-month long occupation from the end of Summer of Love in 1969 to June of 1971. Before I was born! It sounds romantic, isn’t it? Wow, I mean the last time I remember I could make any difference in a democratic process probably was in the late 90’s. The world is very different now, isn’t it?

It's too beautiful a day to be contemplating about the impossibilities and things beyond my control. When I landed on San Francisco again, I bought a couple of scoops of ice cream on a chocolate dipped waffle cone. For an early dinner, I ate some steamed mussels paired with a glass of slightly chilled Chardonnay during happy hours. Such an indulgence, I know. I am probably going to cry when the credit card bill comes. Hey, carpe diem, right? It was so nice to feel alive.

My mom called again. After the last reflection, I thought perhaps I could reconcile and reconnect with her again. Maybe one day the whole flock will be together again. I asked her if dad had been treating her well while I was away, she said everything was fine. She always says that even when it's totally not, but we’ll see. One thing at a time.

Lovingly always,

Sojourner

PS. Sorry for being such a downer in my last letter.

Alcatraz Brick Wall and Tunnel

[space reserved for future expansion]

Alcatraz Penitentiary Sign

[space reserved for future expansion]