My Top 10 Most Memorable People - San Fran

They say my power is "people".

I say, I just care about people and I don't fear them.

I do like them and especially if they are strangers. I like connecting with them. I like hearing their stories. I like making them feel special.

So on a recent trip to San Francisco, I decided to keep track of "my top 10 people" and a summary of how things went down between us.

Here is the list from DAY 1

1. Air Canada check-in desk: I have not seen her in 8 years, and there she is at the check-in counter looking as lovely as I remember her. We kiss, hug and exchange numbers. What a great way to start the day. She reminds me again, to call her prior to a trip so she can try and help me.
2. Flight Attendants: Two men and their refreshment cart
   Me: Hi, can I get a V8 please.
   FA1: Oh darling, we only serve Tomato juice or Clamato. No designer stuff here Ms. high maintenance
   Me: What? I ain't no high maintenance!
   (I then raise my left hand and point to the cherry ring)
   Me: Does this plastic ring for $15 say high-maintenance?
   FA1: Maybe not, but the Tiffany bracelet does
   FA2: What about your D&G glasses (as he taps on them)
   Me: C'mon, that's Pacific Mall stuff (and I wink)
   FA1: Oh no, I saw you coming down with your designer purse, pashmeena and I knew who you were instantly
3. Taxi Driver: He drove like a maniac, switched lanes without signalling, had one hand on his cell phone and the other holding a paper. He did not have a credit card machine or the manual scanner. So he handed me a quarter to scratch my credit card number through the paper. AND, he did not have a pen. I ended speaking to him in Arabic, we discussed politics (but of course!) and gave him my pen to hold on to for his next customer(s).
4. Hotel check-in desk: The nicest boy you could meet at 9:30 am. His eyes lit-up with every smile. I asked him if I can get a waterfront room. Ask and you shall receive.
   Elmer: What is the opposite of in?
   Me: Out!
   Elmer: Oh man, I wanted you to pronounce it as "Aw-ot" as he giggles
   Me: C'mon, you really think all Canadians talk like this, eh?
   Elmer: YESSSS...you said eh! (and proceeds to hand me the keys to 2419)
5. Brits during lunch: There is one accent that I absolutely adore and try to imitate miserably, and it's the British one. My co-worker and I, ended up ordering the same dish as the Brits next to us. Good ice breaker. Light conversation.
6. Housekeeping: I checked in at 9:30 am, and on the 24th floor the ladies were busy turning over the rooms for the new guests. I found the housekeeping lady for my room, gave her a tip and wished her a good day. To later return to the room at night and find 5 bottles of everything in the bathroom.
7. Shopper: I don't recall which store we were in, but I looked up and saw a lady (with vintage LV purse) walking around with a big "SMALL" sticker on her top. Damn right I notified her about the sticker.
8. Massage: Note to self...don't say "deep" to a non-English speaking Chinese man. OUCH! He kept repeating "You like deep" "Is this deep?"
9. Gawd Ed: As we were waiting for our vibrator to do it's thing and light up, I noticed this well dressed O' so lovely on the eyes man walking around with an ear piece. I knew he was the manager of the Cheesecake factory. I flagged my co-worker to check him out, but as always she's 5 mins late into the game. Fast forward 1.5 hours later, and guess who brings our food? Yep, Hottie-in-nice-shirt did. And thanx to our quick-thinking waiter, he asked for him to come back to us and that's where my friend melted into his hand like dark hand-made chocolate.
10. Manny: Manny O' Manny was our waiter. Nice guy.
    Manny: My ex-girlfriend is studying marketing at Berkeley U. and she's excited to start working
    Friend: Oh that's great. It's good she's studying and planing to work in field {delete}
    Me: So you're still talking to your X-girlfriend?
    Manny: Yes, we are good friends
    Me: Umm....that' BS. She is using you.
    Friend: oh no, don't listen to her. You can continue to have a friendship with an X.
    Manny: Oh yah, I love her too much to not be in her life. And I want to always help her.
    Me: Get out. Cut her lose. Don't hold on to her Manny. She is using you.
    Manny: She does have a boyfriend now, but it shouldn't matter.Friend: Don't listen to her. You do what you feel is right. So what if he is friends with his X. It happens and it's possible
    Me: Let her go Manny. She's no longer into you.
    Manny: Well, I'm hoping she'd come back
    Me: She won't if you hold on to her. Let her go and if it's meant to be, she'll come back. Until then, you need to cut her lose and the moment you're honest with yourself, you'll find your soul mate.
    Friend: {all quiet}
    Manny: You're right {nodding away}. I need to. I can't do this.
    Friend: {still quiet}
    Me: I know you can. {Big Smile}