When strangers meet and civility reigns
Barbara Bush once said, “Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people – your family, friends and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.” I’d love to share a story about how this played out for my husband and I last weekend.
I was invited to speak at a conference in Berkeley, Calif. As I’d never visited San Francisco, this seemed like a great opportunity for a weekend escape for my husband and me.
San Francisco is known as one of the most expensive cities in the United States, but we didn’t let that deter us from enjoying the adventure of it all. The sun shone all weekend and the bridges were more breathtaking in person. We walked the famous curves of Lombard Street, hustled (briefly) alongside the tourists at the wharf and genuinely enjoyed the climb up Knob Hill and other steep destinations that Franciscans call home.
Since parking is not only expensive, it can be a nightmare, so we opted for Uber, for the first time. We found each driver to be friendly, outgoing, and eager to share tips and tricks for exploring the city they love (even though most don’t live there since they simply can’t afford the real estate or the rent).