Mary Jane
Posted: September 29th, 2010 | Author: julie | Filed under: Excelsior | Tags: Excelsior | 5 Comments »At home
The Excelsior
Friday afternoon
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I’m a 3rd generation San Franciscan, my grandmother was born in California on July 1, 1861. My home in the Excelsior District is about 100 years old and according to neighborhood lore was built for the horse soldiers of the Presidio. I have three sons, two grandsons all born in San Francisco and one new granddaughter born in Santa Rosa.
My dad, George Willis M., was a veteran and a boxer in the South Pacific during World War II. When he was a teenager, my dad left his family and home in Maine to join the circus and made his way out West. My parents met at the VA hospital in San Francisco, where he was recovering from a leg wound from the war. When I was 11 years old, my dad died unexpectedly – he was a wonderful loving parent to me, I remember his love surrounding me. After he passed, my mother, sister, aunt, and I flew out to Maine. We stopped in Washington D.C. and New York. In Maine we met my father’s family and are still in touch. That was the first time I flew on a plane, our furthest vacation before that was to Yosemite. Many family members came to see us off; it was very exciting and strange.
I grew up with Golden Gate Park as my backyard, this was when the city attractions were free, the zoo, the park—I remember seeing turtles on tree limbs in Stow Lake, taking tea and climbing across the Moon Bridge in the Japanese Garden, going to Playland on the Beach, and riding the ‘record,’ skating at the ice rink and the roller rink. The roof rides at the Emporium were wonderful. I was very lucky to have a grandmother and aunts who would spend so much time with me. I had an opportunity in high school to be a princess with a fancy dress and wand to greet customers at King Norman’s Kingdom of Toys; they used to be on Market Street. We would take swimming lessons at Fleischakers and at Sutro Baths, which had 7 different pools, several levels, was enclosed in glass and had black swimsuits for rent for 20 cents. I remember visiting Disneyland during its first year, staying in the Disneyland hotel, and taking the tram to Main Street.
I grew up surrounded by my family in the Sunset District; my grandmother lived on 15th Ave., my aunt on 39th Ave., and we lived on 38th Ave. Our neighborhood was very tight knit: everyone knew each other and would say hi, there were probably 35 kids on our block, and we walked safely everywhere. I still stay in contact with two friends that I grew up with and still hear from and am in contact with others – we all graduated from Mercy High School, the city’s only all girls’ Catholic school. And growing up Catholic, people didn’t ask you what neighborhood you were from, but what parish you were from. Going out to a restaurant to eat was really a treat, nowadays it seems to ordinary and commonplace. There was nothing better than buying cold cuts and fresh French bread and sitting in my grandmother’s house and listening to all the conversation. We went to the bakery at the corner for fresh cream puffs, still remember the taste. It was fun as a child to look forward to special things; I don’t think it is the same for children in 2010!
I remember protests in Berkeley and at SF State, protesting in Berkeley alongside Angela Davis and then I moved to Sonoma County while my children were growing up. When my first two children were born we moved to Petaluma and my third son was born there. We lived in Sebastopol and in Healdsburg and then to Santa Rosa. I worked at the Santa Rosa Junior College and part-time at the Alexander Valley Vineyards. I moved back to San Francisco with my youngest son, and then at the encouragement of my mother and stepfather, I took a job with the City of San Francisco which I enjoyed very much and am very grateful to have a City pension. When you’re younger you never think you’ll get older, isn’t that a singular trait!! So, for 18 years, I worked with the San Francisco Planning Department and the SF Department of Building Inspections, which were great jobs – the work was very interesting and I enjoyed the camaraderie among my coworkers. I retired five years ago and have found there are many organizations for older people. I belong to the Mission YMCA, Stonestown Senior Annex, Epiphany Church, Doelger Senior Center, the SF State’s 60+ organization, and I thoroughly enjoy my annual camping trip to Camp Mathur, a city run program based out of Yosemite, in Hetch Hetchy where the San Francisco water comes from.
I am getting older and am grateful for the resources available to seniors in this city. There is no reason for elders to stay isolated and alone in their homes; there are plenty of places to explore and many more fascinating experiences yet to come. You can be sure that I enjoy the activities that I have found that is why my story and photo is here for all to read and I hope you enjoy.
Wishing everyone takes a chance to see what life has to offer!
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Mary Jane was introduced to me and i live here:SF by the wonderful people at Rebuilding Together SF, a local non-profit that provides free repair and renovation programs for low-income, elderly and disabled San Franciscans. You can learn more about Rebuilding Together SF here.
