What a surprise to feel the inspiration, urge, if not the "force" to write a new blog entry on what would indeed turn out to be an auspicious day this 18th of November, 2011....two years later to the date since out of the blue...actually out a tweet...this blog began.
The story begins approximately 6 years ago in 2005 when Sebastian and Officer Barbaro met on the streets of San Francisco's Mission District. Officer J. Barbaro was one the beat cops assigned to the 24th Street Mission neighborhood patrol. Sebastian was homeless living on the streets and parading around the neighborhood on his bike wearing his white t-shirt wrapped around his head rather than on this body. His goatee, fashion sense and recently acquired street smarts earned him the street name Arab (pronouces Ay-rab), or El Arabe. Up to no good and high as a kite he had weekly, if not daily run-ins with El Barbaro!
As fate or destiny would have it, Officer Barbaro and Sebastian Arabian would meet again in the Hall of Justice to share stories, congratulations, adulation and clean up some karma from this life and perhaps previous ones.
Officer Barbaro says to Sebastian, "I will never forget the first time I met you. I was giving one of your drinking buddies a citation for having an open container. I told him, "Por favor firme en el ix" You sneered and smugly said to me "No se dice ix en espanol se dice equis!" "Oh yah, how would you know Mr. Wise Guy" sounding much like the rookie on the force and unfamiliar with the streets.
And quite solemnly and out of nowhere came the response, "Because not everything that is, always was." Those words are even more meaningful now that I see you, two and half years sober, healthy and cleaned up."" Sebastian had nearly died on those streets from severe and near fatal liver failure from alcohol abuse.
Now Sebastian has no recollection of ever saying those words; and when moved to think about it, nor does he feel it was him talking at that moment. Those words were inspired from above as was this meeting 6 years later in the Hall of Justice, otherwise known on the street as 850 Bryant.
Long story short, Sebastian was presenting himself before the court this day, to be arraigned for his multiple petty infractions committed on the streets, now totaling over 1,500 dollars, 5 warrants for arrest over a total of 3 years. No small matter to go before a judge plead guilty and then ask for clemency according to the DA's office.
As Life would have it, it would be El Barbaro who would "serve and protect" El Arabe from his new post as bailiff of the court as a character witness! As a result, all the warrants and fines were dismissed.
Sebastian and Officer Barber formed a new bond based on mutual respect and admiration and a new-found and experienced faith in humanity. "It's good to see that some do make it out, that there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Take care of yourself and stay out of trouble."
Sebastian humbling and gratefully shakes Officer Barbaro's hand and says goodbye before existing the court room.
To be continued...to be revised!
