Welcome to my office at Mission Pie. The address: 2901 Mission Street, San Francisco. I’m there almost every Monday, and sometimes on other days too. If you’re a regular as I am, I’m sure we’ve met each other at one time or another. But I’m not here to tell you how great their pies are (they have great pies) and how bright and airy the place that makes it very suitable for writers because you can experience that for yourself. I want to tell you a personal connection that happened years ago.
The day after 9/11 in 2001 I sent out an invitation to my Clarion mailing list to attend a candlelight vigil on Friday. Many people came. After poetry and music we lit the candles and walked around the block in Chinatown. Then with a prayer and blessing we dispersed. I did not know most of the people who attended that night but we all felt we needed to have each other.
About a year ago when I went to Mission Pie the owner came up to me.
“I’m Karen. I met you at Clarion’s candlelight vigil. It was a beautiful experience that I’ll never forget.”
And now I am in her care, eating her wonderful pies, drinking her teas, claiming a space to further my poetry.
