The Coffee Shop Chronicles No. 12

I can tell that Spring is finally arriving. I feel a restlessness in my bones that comes after the long complacency of winter. A winter spent mostly indoors, now the outside world is calling me. The only thing is, now after doing the coffee shop chronicles for these past months, the lonely backroads don't have the same appeal anymore. Now I seek out people to be in my adventures.

I arrived at the coffee shop at five minutes past eight.

There must be something about my name that is hard for the Order Taker to remember. When I came in she knew I wanted a muffin. She looked concerned as I perused the case looking for a muffin I hadn't tried yet. She voiced her concern "Don't we have the muffin you want?" I told her that I am trying all the different varieties of muffins that they make, so I was looking for something I hadn't tried before. She suggested the Double Chocolate, I don't think I have had that one before, even if I had who can resist chocolate. When it came time for the Order Taker to write down my name for the order she says "remind me of your name again". Maybe if I stuck to the same day every week and the same muffin she would remember more easily, but me sticking to anything that consistently is unlikely to happen.

Thursday morning has its regulars just like Tuesday morning does. The group of older ladies were here again, minus one, only four today. I positioned myself at the table next to them again.  The group of cyclists were here again as well. I figured out that they are a bicyclist group, since one of the guys had his gear with him. Also the older ladies made a comment about the bicyclist group being smaller this week.

A small contingent of police officers were here as well. Some of the same ones from Coffee Shop Chronicles No. 3. A couple in their 60's came in, placed their order, and while the husband stopped to fill up his white ceramic coffee mug from the large pump style coffee carafe, she went ahead to get a table. I could tell she wanted the booth in the corner, the booth that the police officers were sitting directly in front of. She skirted around one way to get there, and then decided that was too close in passing the officers, so she skirted back the other way. Eventually she just committed and squeaked in behind them and claimed the booth. By this time, the husband has his coffee and makes a bee line right for the booth, not paying the police officers any attention at all.

As I settled in I happened to glance out the window and noticed a guy carrying a bouquet of grocery store flowers. I wanted to follow him and see where he was taking them, who the recipient was going to be. Would she be surprised, pleased, or matter of fact about them. Watching this guy with the flowers reminded me of a comment that my friend Naomi wrote on last week's Coffee Shop Chronicles. She wrote "When you described the guy out in the snow, I realized that there's a story hidden in everyone and everything. Thank you for pointing that out. I think that's one reason why I like this series…makes me wonder about other people's stories." So Naomi, the guy with the flowers is for you. What's his story?

The most adorable couple in their later 20's came in for breakfast with their two young sons. The one little guy was maybe around 8 months, just to the point of mastering sitting in a high chair well. The other little one was probably around three. They enjoyed a delightful breakfast together, the boys being very well behaved. Once done the three year old was allowed to get down and wander close to the table. He found the fish tank. He was partially using it to hide from his parents, but he was also intently watching the fish swim in the tank. As most little kids try to do, he put his pouty little lips on the glass trying to kiss the fish. I wonder how many times a day they have to clean the glass on that tank.

As the cute couple was getting ready to leave, the husband and two boys were sitting on the couch next to the fish tank. The mom grabbed her iPhone and snapped a quick photo of them sitting there. What will she remember about this photo six months from now? If it doesn't get deleted before that. Will the mom see her precious guys and marvel at how the little ones have grown? Will she think about how much she loves her husband? Will the photo evoke memories of a fun day spent together, starting with breakfast at the local coffee shop? Part of me wanted to go over and offer to take a snapshot of all four of them, but I hated to insert myself into their story...maybe I should have.

Until next week...