Friday
I woke up and was not sick.

Dove-gray light came through the sheer drapes into my hotel room. I stacked up the pillows and ate my Luna bar while watching inane morning TV. It’s crucial that I eat first thing. Even when I do this at home, I have still been sick a couple of times, but I swear it has everything to do with having to rise an a ridiculous hour. In this case, it was nearly 8am, the perfect time to get up according to my pregnant body.

Showered and dressed and packed up my suitcase, and checked out by 9:30. But I left my suitcase in the hotel so I could wander about in search of breakfast. I stepped out into the bright, slanted sunshine, and walked right down Post, pointed to the Peet’s on Battery and Bush. It has been about a year and a half since my last visit, but my memory doesn’t seem to have lost anything. I was suddenly overcome by nostalgia. The light washing over the familiar buildings, the cool air, the abundance of people who had actually dressed nicely for work. Seattle looks like a sea of casual outdoors-wear and bland black pantsuits next to the stylish workers of downtown SF.

I ordered an iced latte at Peet’s, then took it across the street to Noah’s, where I got a toasted cinnamon bagel with cream cheese on the side. I finished it all sitting at a window seat, people watching and thinking to myself, why did I leave this paradise? I know the reason will come to me soon, I thought. But in this moment, I was overcome with years of memories in sharp focus, of walking to the Ferry Building on my lunch break, meeting up with my husband for coffee in the shadow of the ballpark. All the little daily things I took for granted, I guess.

At eleven, I fetched my suitcase and walked back to Market, passing through sunbathed Union Square on the way, looking at starry-eyed tourists admiring the ornate facade of the Macy’s building. I hopped on a 71 bus, along with pushy old Chinese ladies that I remember so well, and traveled west at a high rate of speed, lurching up Haight and bracing myself hard at every sudden stop sign. Very soon I was at the panhandle, and my friend Rena’s apartment on Oak.

She is pregnant also, six weeks behind me, and still in that must-eat-at-all-times phase, so after a brief rest, we walked up to Haight for more food at Squat and Gobble. She got this awesome pasta dish, which I immediately coveted, while I decided on healthy granola in milk with fruit. But I got bites of her pasta. Mmmm, shrimps.

My town in WA is lacking in many things. One of them is a place to buy cheap yet fashionable clothing. So Crossroads was definitely on my list. I found a cute flowy top and halter dress, each with original tags attached, each around $10. I think they both came from Forever 21 at one time. Rena found an adorable printed sun dress and a pair of black glittery flats. Yay!

The next item on our agenda was driving to the south bay to visit our also pregnant (!) pal Tamara, who is eight months along and was put on temporary bedrest due to contractions. Originally we had all hoped to get together in the city, but as she is housebound, that was obviously out. When we got to her house, we were greeted by hugs and a spread of colorful French macaroons and hot tea. Tamara is a natural at entertaining, even when weeks from giving birth.

We chatted, exchanged gifts, admired her nursery, and hung out in the backyard, where it was pleasantly hot. By the time we left it was about six pm. As Rena and I sped back up 280, my phone rang — it was Tamara telling me I’d left my camera at her house. This even after I had said to myself, “Jane do not forget your camera.” I guess just the reminder was not enough. Oh, pregnancy brain. Sigh. It was too late to turn around. She said she would mail it to me, and Rena offered to loan me her little Powershot for the remainder of my stay.

Once back in SF, the three of us (Rena’s husband Derek of course) walked a short ways away for some Ethiopian food on Divisadero. The fog was coming in again and it was cold, but we were promised a hot Saturday and Sunday. After dinner we went back to the apartment and hung out with the awesome doggie, Mia. She knows many tricks, and will also sing when she hears a siren going by outside. A very lovely dog, who kind of reminds me a little of Kona.

Next: Saturday.