As I’ve noted previously, Joanna is a native of the Bay Area. And though she has no desire to ever live there again, a part of her will always be with San Francisco. Tony Bennett’s signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” captures a feeling shared by many who have spent time in that amazing city.
Years ago when I had a conference in Berkeley, we had the opportunity to spend several days in and around San Francisco. We toured the city via various forms of transit, including a pedicab, a BART train, a ferry (at night, so we could see the lights of the city from the bay), and, of course, a cable car — for which Joanna got to serve as brakewoman. Acting like tourists, we ate lunch at Pier 39 and had dessert at Ghirardelli Square. Another time we drove to a summer conference in Los Angeles by way of the Oregon Coast and the Pacific Coast Highway, passing Bodega Bay (where she had also spent part of her earlier life), and crossing over a fog-shrouded Golden Gate Bridge.
Frankly, our favorite big cities now are Seattle, Portland and New York. But San Francisco is a beautiful place, with a fascinating history, and I definitely wouldn’t mind spending more time there — especially with the woman who has my heart.
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” lyrics here, with video (including some nice scenes from the city) below.
Love Songs for Joanna 