This is a place I come to, to write, and for the free wifi.
I have been coming here for longer than 18 months. The first few months were during a dark
period of unemploy, when I grew tired of the silence in the library. (Any Whovians
among you will understand the reference. *wink.) This is a café. Usually, but not always, they play some inane
jazz-style music, mainly to drown conversations and make eavesdropping
difficult. But today is Sunday, and
baristas either do not like the music, or they forget to turn it on. It is still. Quiet, but for patrons who
enter, of which there are few early on a Sunday. Herein I will describe some of the patrons I have
observed in this establishment.
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| For me it is not about the coffee. I am not a huge fan of coffee. |
Sunday mornings there is the lonely, rich entrepreneur. He buzzes into the parking lot in one of
those very expensive Mercedes Benz, two seater convertibles. Some Sundays he sits out there by himself
waiting for his “little” friend –the bearded raconteur, who begins by naming the three
hyper-intellectual books that he has read in the past week. That particular fellow I have not seen in
over a month, but there are other sycophants.
One or another will appear shortly, occasionally two will join. They discuss books, politics, and local
news. I have only ever heard a few of
the book titles, and most of the local news.
They are indiscreet, but I try not to listen.
Weekdays there are the “olds”,… a group of anywhere two and
as many as eleven, senior citizens who meet early weekday mornings to
chat. There is the Archie Bunker of the
group, a loud-mouthed complainer and general rascal. Often seated next to “Archie” the George Jefferson of the group, equally
grouchy, but able to hold his tongue most of the time. “Archie” and “George” mutually dislike each
other, but “George” graciously holds his tongue, just taking it all in with wry
amusement. There are 5 “usuals” who
range from “Archie” who is working part-time to get by on the social security
pittance, to “Humphrey” who is rich and a former bank president-from what I
have overheard. At least one woman, “Betty
Jane”, rounds out the group, and sometimes “Humphrey’s” young looking wife
joins the group. They chat for an hour,
then most leave, but occasionally “Betty Jane” and “George” stay and talk, and
laugh about “Archie” and his crazy stories.
There are the mah jong
ladies, they show up every Friday morning and play for hours. Lots of boisterous laughter, and noisy
shuffling of mah jong tiles at the end of each match. On Wednesdays or Thursdays there are the Scrabble
ladies.
Another Friday group is the mysterious old ladies…. Spies perhaps
(*wink),… they often exchange documents and discreetly put them into their
carryall bags. You have to really watch
them to catch them at it. There is
something secretive about the exchange and quick insertion to the bags. After they play cards. Skipbo this week, but other complicated card
games other weeks. Perhaps there is a
code in all that card playing –I hadn’t thought of that before (*wink). I have observed them playing canasta at one
point, and with one I do not often see they played Bridge. The number of mysterious old ladies varies from
week to week, with as many as six in the group, though not all participate in the
card games. There is a large woman who
has trouble getting around, a Brit- the accent gives it away don’t you know, and there are two other regulars, but I
cannot describe them. The Brit thinks I
told her about my mother as if mom were still alive…when I informed her that
mom died 12 years ago the Brit stopped speaking to me, and now casts angry
glances my way. ‘Look lady, I can’t help
it if you twisted that conversation around in the week that went by between our
speaking!’
There are regular “booth sitters” as well –like myself. I get in early on Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday –when they open, and I occupy the third booth, away from the
windows.
There is “Harry”, who shaves his head and
comes in here to use the free wifi to participate in some kind of multi-player
war or strategy game online –he stays for hours and hours (like me). And “Reg”, who also shaves his head, and comes in to
watch some videos or listen to music…”Reg” does not stay more than an hour or
two.
The chess players come in every Friday between 9:00 and
1:00.
The businessman comes in daily, after 3, and does some computer work to
round out his day. Record keeping over
coffee and a slice of pie.
The “fat”
boys, father and son actually,…they used to come in every afternoon,..I have
not seen them in months, …if I recall correctly they did not come in on
Fridays, and I never saw them on the weekend.
This barely scratches the surface, as the list of “regulars”
is a long one.
So. Yesterday
afternoon, the gal managing this café decided to rearrange some of the
furniture…. It makes me wish I could be here every day to get the reactions of
the regulars…. They will NOT be happy.
The big round table is over by the front door –“the olds” will HATE
that! And the chess players as well. It
is noisier over there, right next to the front door….people come and go, and
there is the noise of the baristas as well.
It is quiet over here in the booths, away from the bustle of the
business. ....They also moved the “library” chairs out of the little
alcove and placed a 2 person table there instead. But now the “library” chairs are out in the
middle of the place, by the gas fireplace. That will prove unpopular also. .....I wonder what the regular ‘day-lady’ baristas will do,… there
will be complaints - to this rearrangement.
And, in a little corner of the world, life goes on….
