special collections on the sixth floor

the best treasures are almost always found in unexpected places. today i found the specials collection on the sixth floor of the main library in san francisco. i would have never found it where it not for a computer training scheduled for tuesday and located on the sixth floor. when i visit the main library i usually stop on the fifth floor, so i'm glad the training took me to a different, almost exclusive world. after the training, naturally i wondered around halls that curved in various directions leading me to three gems placed in the least foot-trafficked floor. maybe it's too much of a workout for folks. first i discovered an exhibit that contained the history of diverse cuisine in san francisco. i learned that as each wave of immigrants came to san francisco, the popularity of certain kinds of cuisine grew accordingly. vietnamese immigrants, for example, came in large numbers during the 70s, so pho and spring rolls was introduced to a san franciscan's palate and vietnamese restaurants became more common. there were similar stories for japanese, mexican, and french cuisine. i also noticed a door that led me to a rooftop garden. the sun was out and my face was warm, i was satisfied. when i felt too hot, i slipped back inside and noticed another door that led me to the special collections room. the woman told me that this department is reserved for books that are native to san francisco, that is written by a san franciscan author and or historical to the city origins and development. that's when i got pinched by an imagination bug. i felt a homely feeling on the sixth floor among the books that contained so much history of the city i was born in. many historians, scholars move to places in far away lands to study places and spaces. and here i am living in one of the most fascinating and beautiful cities. i want to be a san franciscan so i'm gonna live in this space and embrace it. i'm also going to be a live-in resident and research the history of this city. i hope to publish a book, so next time you see me ask me how my book writing is going!