San Francisco Cable Car Ride

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A Cable Car Ride In The City

If you're going to San Francisco... not only do you have to wear some flowers in your hair, but you also have to take a cable car ride.

When I attended the Contraceptive Technology medical conference in San Francisco, I stayed at the Huntington Hotel which is perched on top of California Street, just across from Grace Cathedral.

The California Street cable car runs right in front of the hotel.

To My Conference via The Cable Car

On the first morning of the conference I bounded out the door of my hotel, late as usual, and spied the cable car paused on its tracks.  A gesture from the cable car gripman indicated it was okay to come aboard, so I hopped on to profit from a ride, instead of a long walk, to my conference that was being held in the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero.

Of course, this was after a quick check for traffic since you must take care to not be mowed down by a car or truck as you run into the street to climb aboard.

The Rhythms Of A Cable Car

Once on board, I was immediately overtaken by the familiar sounds and sensations of the cable car. The constant humming of the cable running below the tracks was almost a palpable vibration. Like a musical instrument, the grip handle ratcheted back and then released as if playing a rhythmic song.

The gripman applied the brakes and expertly clung to the cable that pulled us along. Sitting on the outer part of the car, l happily inhaled the fresh Pacific Ocean air, rich and full of life. Our departure from a stop was signaled by a tap-tap of the cable car bell, like a sweet cherry placed on top of this feast for the senses.

I couldn't get enough. I gulped in the sounds of whirring cables that pulled us up and down the great hill of California Street. In a video created with only my iPhone 5, I captured this noisy symphony.


Cable cars are not just for the tourists. To quote one travel writer, Kathryn Vercillo: 

“This is a form of transportation, not a ride, and you should treat it with that respect and safety in mind.”
 

This working activity of the cable cars gives them a real substance, a depth to their purpose.

Everyday office workers utilize the cable cars for their commute and to attend business meetings. Native San Franciscans can be seen catching a cable car for shopping or running errands. With a Muni pass, it's easy to hop on and off.

Take a look how this gripman, Val Luiz, describes working on the California cable car line in his blog "Tales from the Grip." May 2005, "California Here I Come".

California street evening view from the cable car

Good Night, San Francisco

Many secrets and sparkling gems are tucked among the hills of our beloved City by the Bay. 

The San Francisco cable cars are just one of many reasons to fall in love with The City.

sutro tower at sunset from hotel

 

Martha And Mary Days

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Our Martha And Mary Days

With a cup of coffee in hand, I launched my morning. Looking down at my to-do list, I noticed that my day would be a "Martha and Mary" day, like most days. My schedule would consist of activity and rest, or meditation. Maharishi emphasized that the two aspects were an important balance in our daily lives.. We couldn’t do just one or the other.

 

martha stewart photo

 

The Bible Story Of Martha And Mary

There is a story referenced in the Bible in the Gospel of Luke 10:38-42:

 
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’

’Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”
 

Growing up, my family had a 10-volume set of children's books printed in the mid-1950s – The Bible Story by Arthur Maxwell. I don't know how they got them. Perhaps someone came to the house as a door-to-door salesman.

When I was young, I loved to read and like most children, I could read the same thing over and over again. This set of books was no exception. I clearly remember the story of Martha and Mary.

Semiradsky, artist

Martha Or Mary – Who Was Right?

The story stuck with me, because I always felt sorry for Martha. The story painted her in a somewhat negative light. It didn't seem very fair. It's not always so clear which one is “right.”

Because who knows? Maybe there were extenuating circumstances – maybe Mary had a reputation of not doing her fair share of work around there. If we all sat around in constant meditation, others could get upset about tasks left undone, especially meals missed.

It's all about everything in the right timing and balance, isn't it?

My final analysis was that Martha probably needed to relax a bit and get in touch with her own deeper meditations and Mary probably needed to pull her full weight a bit more.

Perhaps this parable was a gentle reminder that, in the chaos of this world, we need to remember to keep balance in our own daily lives.

Johann Vermeer, Artist

Martha And Mary In Balance

Joanne Weaver wrote a book with this very idea in mind, entitled: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.  She is quoted here:

 
“While the world applauds achievement, God desires companionship.
The world clamors, ‘Do more! Be all that you can be!’
But our Father whispers, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’”
 

We want the qualities of both Martha and Mary, because both aspects are needed and desired. In fact, when these two energies are in balance, each one contributes to the loving qualities of caring. The trick is that neither should overpower the other.

Keeping everything in balance, however, can be quite the juggling act. Distraction is at an all-time high in our modern lives. Just look at all of us bent over our phones.

With unrelenting daily pressures to complete outer tasks – it's easy to become overwhelmed and distracted by all our "Martha" obligations.

Nurture Your Inner Martha and Mary

Poor Martha, being called-out like that. I hope she got over it, finished what she was doing, and then relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

What about you? Do you sometimes find you are more Martha or more Mary?

 

D-Day, A Day To Remember

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06 June 1944

 
“Those who fought, and died, to free Europe on that day altered the course of history.”
 

The Allied Invasion

On 06 June 1944, during World War II, the Allies launched a massive landing on the beaches of Normandy in France. It became known as D-Day and it's a date we recognize and remember each year.

 
“More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe.”
 

This was no easy beach landing. The Germans were entrenched with strong fortifications. Initially, it was a massacre of Allied troops, but still they pressed on.

It was imperative to take those beaches at all costs. And for those who died that day, it was, indeed, at all costs.

 
“The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard slog across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler’s crack troops.”
 

WWII AMERICAN CEMETERY IN NORMANDY

Present Day Awareness Of D-Day

Imagine the trembling fear and simultaneous bravery that must have surged through the troops as they landed. The sacrifice of human life that was required to take those beaches is immeasurable. Who will die? Who will survive?

Maybe you know individuals in your family who were at the landing. Healing is still needed for all participants of the war, for both sides.

Some of us are moved to sorrow by the plants and animals affected by the war. The earth itself bears the wounds of many bombings. We hold it all in our hearts and awareness as we remember them.

D-Day beaches with craters from bombings – pointe du hoc

On this D-Day – we honor those who came before us for their willingness to step forward into the heat of battle and for their immense sacrifice.