Oh the cast of characters I see

I did order just a cup of coffee, right?

Perhaps you've seen them. Perhaps you're one of them. If you have ever stopped by and picked up a cup of coffee at my regular stop, this might sound a little familiar to you. And I certainly hope so.  While my favorite spot happens to reside on the street this blog is named after, it really can apply to just about any place.

But really, can there be such a collection of all forms of humanity in one single place?  Is it the aroma, the sharing of intellect, the piles of newspapers, the bulletin boards advertising new picture gallery's or yet another yoga studio grand opening. Who knows?  Maybe it's the coffee. 

I stopped by one morning and just started thinking about who are these people are that are standing in front me in line causing me to be late for work. 

Plopped down in their own little corner by the beans, you find the lawyers / lobbyists who tend to feel like they own the place, yet that small one-shot of expresso doesn't hold up to my overpowering large house blend. But they are harmless, even if the cheap cologne / after shave might be causing the bagels to go stale. 

Speaking of which, a word to the wise: do not ask for your bagels to be toasted.  These are top-quality bagels for sure, but it's customary for this toaster / flame-thrower to spit out a flaming piece of charcoal for all to smell. Would you like that sliced? 

One of my favorite characters to populate this place, and these are the most entertaining, are the regulars. Oh boy, do we know these folks.  Unfortunately by name.  And he probably knows my name for all I know, but he is pretty much the mayor of the place. Parks where ever he wants with the keys in the ignition and truck running. Not sure what he does, but I have not seem him not eating. Maybe that's a career. Who knew. 

And of course, the retired couple who come in each and every morning to help the local economy with that $2.05 cup of joe while proceeding to snatch up all of the free newspapers.  And that's not all, once I actually paid a buck to buy a paper and before I had a chance to read it (I must have blinked), he had already scooped it up off my table.  "Are you done with this?" 

"No!"

Like most college towns, there are always the students.  Not so much early in the morning (let's be real), but by late evening and late night, there isn't a table in this place without a MacBook and piping hot latte next to it.  Facebook anyone? 

To me, I still cannot figure out how one can study at a coffee shop.  Sure, in theory it sounds nice.  But only in theory. In a perfect world, I would have the place to myself, smooth jazz vibrating through the dusty mugs on the wall.  But no, instead you have people sitting on top of each other scrambling to fight for the one wall socket, challenging each other for who has the loudest and most annoying laugh, and the regular flush of the only toilet in the place just a mere five feet from the counter. 

Yes, the sounds of silence. 

But that's how it goes.  And if you don't really like that, then just step outside on the porch. Of course, only tread if you don't mind a little smoke from the revolutionists assembling to plot their next goals in life. That and discovering the real rules of chess.  Ah, nobody knows. 

Check mate.