If you're going to San Francisco

Mr. Burd made a really good point. I know quite a bit about San Francisco and, since it's all that's on my mind lately, I'm writing a blog about it. In exactly 140 days I'm moving away. My best friend, Paige Fekete, and I are packing up what little belongings we have and finally starting our lives. The last few months we've been looking at living expenses and I know we can make it. Mainly because we don't want a better living condition than the one we have, we just want to maintain our standard living plus rent. I've also been looking at apartments and there are a lot of good options. We can manage living in a nicer place because there's two of us and my dad agreed to help with rent for the first four years, as long as I'm in college.

Even though we can afford a nice place, chances are we'll be living in either the Mission (Not the safest neighborhood but defiantly not the worst. Has more of a college feel to it, it's almost bohemian.), Tendernob (Which is south of Nob Hill, a very rich neighborhood, and north of Tenderloin, a more industrial section of the city.), or North Panhandle (Another not to great neighborhood.) San Francisco is a unique city that cannot be understood unless you've been there. It's almost magic. The city itself can taunt, frighten, and seduce you. Every region, from Haight- Ashbury to the Fisherman's Wharf, is totally different from one another.

From the time we were ten Paige and I have been talking about San Fran. We always spoke of it as if it were a dream, like flying or walking on the moon. It wasn't until the beginning of last year that we realised, this could happen. We could do this and we could do it right. We can live the way we've wanted to for so long. And although we may not be able to afford that Victorian duplex on Haight street just yet, we will someday. Although my name isn't listed as a staff writer in the San Francisco Chronicle now, it will be someday. Although I don't have the ocean air through my hair today, I will someday. I'll get there, I can feel it.

Some people are born to do certain things. Whether it's save lives, live in a different country, or rob banks. Those actions obsess these people. It's all they think and talk about. They eat, sleep, breathe this one thing. I didn't know what my one thing was. All I knew was that I was obsessed with getting away. I never wanted to be in one place, until I saw San Fran. I could honestly live my whole life in that area and die completely happy. Writing in San Francisco is my one thing. My obsession, my dream, and soon my reality. I hope you all find yours.

Janaye Campbell
WHS
Wickenburg, Ariz.