Another Kind of Lovefest

On Saturday, I hopped on the N-Judah to head downtown to go to a friend's anniversary and housewarming party. Halfway to my destination, a gaggle of loud, crazy young people (I know I sound like I haven't put my dentures in yet, but that's what they were), dressed in what can only be described as an updated version of Summer of Love attire, crammed themselves onto the once quiet train. The girls had the headscarves, flower face paints, long hair and halter tops, but one boy was wearing SquareBob Spongepants pants under his Nesta Bob Marley shirt, one boy was wearing a pirate hat and another a green visor that said Las Vegas on it.

Once the train got going, one girl yelled at the top of her lungs, "I'M HAVING THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE AND I HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN ANY DRUGS YET! WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOO!"

The peaceful ride downtown was gone. Then they sang the Tequila Song. I still had no idea what had caused this invasion, nor did most of our other fellow travelers judging from the looks on their faces, until that same girl started screaming, "LOVEFEST! LOVEFEST! GONNA GET ME SOME LOVE AT LOVEFEST! LOVE LOVE LOVE! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!"

Needless to say, she was annoying the sh*t out of me, and I hoped that whatever drugs she planned on taking later would make her shut the hell up.

When I got off at Civic Center Station to catch a bus to Potrero Hill, there were many other similarly clad "young people" swarming out of the station and flowing like a sea of fluorescent lemmings up towards City Hall. Was Gavin attending Lovefest, too? (I'm not saying that the mayor is a fluorescent lemming or anything. He did come to the opening of our local library.)

What I found particularly amusing was this line of Lovefestarians waiting in line to get cash from the ATM where I was waiting for the bus. Is there a similar line to get your drugs once you're at Lovefest? Hey, lady. No, I'm not The Sartorialist. But if you're going to dress like a demented circus clown, then yes, I am going to take your photo for my blog.

See, I told you I was a bitch. But I do like her fella's feathered vest.

***

My bus arrived, and I finally made it to another sort of Lovefest, but one that was a bit more real, and frankly, more loving. An anniversary party for friend from work, and his partner, who got married in 2004 when Gavin (er, should I say Mayor Newsome) had the city-county clerk issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Their marriage certificate was voided in August of 2004 by the California Supreme Court.

***

Their house is an oasis of graceful design (he's an architect and he's an interior designer) and lovely appointed interiors, with a view that overlooks a good part of the bay. The food and wine were perfect, to no one's surprise. We laughed and mingled and petted the aging princess kitty of the house, Roxanne.

I looked at their wedding photos.

He told me how his husband sang "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" to him during their vows. And of course, I started to tear up and so did he.

***

Love is everywhere, all around us.

And you don't need dayglo fluoresent tights and some Ecstasy to get it. Especially the kind of love that means something.