The city air and mist swirled around me, droplets condensing on the surface of my phone as I thumbed through my apps for a ride home after my morning boxing class. There was nothing particular about this day, other than it being a rare weekend morning that I didn't spend sleeping in. The air was cold, typical of a San Francisco summer, yet the quiet of the morning was inviting. I put away my phone and decided to walk home that day.
I spent the next hour or two walking by small cafes, picking up a coffee here and a pastry there. I chatted with some of the storeowners, bought some flowers to have at home, took a few pictures. I spent a long time in a stationery shop purchasing Christmas cards for my friends even though the holiday season wasn't for another half year, just because of how much I liked the art. The storeowner I chatted with even gave me a card for free--one that said "make good things happen." It was an innocuous message but one that I really needed: I was disoriented having just moved to the city, burnt out from a stressful period at work, and feeling guilty from deciding to break things off the person I was dating. The last thing I felt capable of was making something good happen.
It would have taken all of 12 minutes for me to Uber back to the Nob Hill apartment I had lived in at the time. I'm glad I didn't because otherwise, I would never have happened upon what I was missing: the feeling of being "myself." I thought back to my time in Los Angeles and how I was happiest when connecting people together or discovering ways to engage with my community, and how I hadn't exactly found that in SF. However, that morning of finding my way back home while exploring the streets, I was energized by the existence of a possible weekend morning routine, the small businesses I had discovered and the owners I met, the personalities of the people on the streets, even the ups and downs from the godawful hills I trekked to get home.
At times when I'm especially hit with the pandemic's ennui, I think about moments like that morning from years ago—how slowly, through small steps, I found ways to recognize and be "myself" again even when the environment looks different.
Today I am another year older, and the pre-pandemic me that I knew and liked feels a little distant. I used to take a lot of pride in what I could provide for others, usually spending my birthday treating my friends or using it as an excuse to let others lavishly celebrate. This year's birthday required me to receive much more than I could give, and celebrate much more quietly than I would have preferred, just like how this past year forced me to grow in a way that was different than how I would have picked for myself. However, if I really think about it, I still spent it in a way that felt like "me": supporting a local business, treating the friends in my proximity, connecting with those I care about, pursuing my hobbies, enjoying the town I’m in, and being grateful for the life I live.
featured
Michi's Catering
(Instagram: @michi_life; delivery only)
Michi’s Catering is a family-owned catering business that started in 1992, specializing in weddings and special/corporate events. During the pandemic, the family has also begun making food for delivery. They fly in their fish from Japan each week and also offer seasonal specialties that they can get their hands on (I think right now, they have Hokkaido uni, Kumamoto oysters, and Kobe beef). I found out about this place through one of my friends that I used to work out with (back when I did such things).
Instagram saw it first, but I’m still so blown away by my picnic spread… the birthday spread of dreams!!!
experience
They give SO much food. Each individual sashimi slice is thiccccc and the rolls are honestly too big for just any ordinary chopstick holder to handle. Also, they threw in sushi rice for free when I asked, and edamame and chicken-cabbage gyoza come complimentary (as if you didn’t already have enough food). Moreover, it tastes great—the fish is fresh and high quality (just LOOK at the striation on the yellowtail). Best of all? It’s reasonably priced for the quality that you’re getting. You’ll definitely have enough to both eat and be merry.
logistics
Order only through Instagram DMs: @michi_life
The weekly menu is posted in IG Story and Story Highlights.
Free (scheduled) delivery throughout the South Bay, but will deliver to San Francisco for an additional $10.
Payments through Venmo or Credit Card
No shares this week because it takes me a while to curate, and I’ve been behind on my reading and listening!