Wavy Gravy, A Fish, The Berkeley Amtrak Station, Spenger’s Parking Lot and Serenditipity

Serendipity?

My first stop this morning was to our Berkeleyhomes Community Moving Van, which is parked in the Spenger’s Fish Grotto Parking Lot in Berkeley’s Fourth Street Neighborhood. Someone had smashed a window, and I needed to see which one so I could have it replaced.

The next stop?  To Manhattan Bagel for breakfast, then to the Berkeley YMCA.

Got all the way into the locker room, and realized for the first time in over 21 years, I’d left my gym bag in the car… back to the car, then down to the locker room.

And who was sitting there? Wavy Gravy, a genuine Berkeley institution.

So I introduced myself, and asked him if he’d brought his fish into the hot tub.  He immediately said “No, this is a fish out of water”

And that reminded me that I’d seen him walking his fish, and the mural of him carrying his fish, at the Berkeley Amtrak Station dedication last year.

But there’s more than that connection.  You see, every year Wavy Gravy has a birthday party and also several benefits to raise funds for his Seva Foundation.

And each year, Seva, being a non-profit organization, uses our moving van for free.

Seva?  They’re just off Fourth Street, and located a Bagel’s Throw from the best bagels in Berkeley – Manhattan Bagel.

Mark your calendars for “Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie” at the Mill Valley Film Festival.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.