The Coffee Shop
Coffee Shop
Funny how Life Happens when you don’t expect it. We stopped in Valdosta, Georgia, on the way down to Florida and decided to stay downtown instead of near the interstate. Nice little historic hotel called The McKey in a typical southern downtown, with a beautiful old courthouse, complete with statues, Massive old oak trees, Memorials, Plaques, etc, etc.
Next morning I decided to get a fancy cup of coffee and something sweet to eat before heading down interstate 75. There was one right downstairs called Gud Coffee. (no, that’s not a spelling error, I don’t know how to put a – over the u!) I’ve never spent much time in a coffee shop in the morning. I do the drive through cause I’m in a hurry.
What a new experience for me! I didn’t know this culture existed! It reminds me of night clubs and discos back in the 70’s and 80’s! Mostly young folks meeting their friends , sitting at their favorite tables, saying hello, also meeting new friends of friends.
When I got there about 9am, there were just a few people there, scattered about, relatively quiet, laptops, some headphones. I figured the busy time must be earlier in the day. You could tell the difference between the social folk and the not social folk, mostly by the headphones and the seating choice. Some facing the wall or the window, others choosing the couch type group seating.
People began showing up, slowly at first, then I realized that the place had come alive. The social folk were arriving, the line at the order counter was getting longer , the coffee makers, (I guess I should call them Baristas) were moving faster, almost like, … well maybe because … the caffeine was kicking in!
I was feeling like a real outsider, until I pulled out my laptop. Then I fit right in!
As an ‘Observer’, I love watching this unfold. There’s the friendly young lady, with her hair up on in a pony tail on top of her head, and her sunglasses perched perfectly on top , she picked a spot on the couch and seemed to know everyone who walked in, complete with hugs and hello’s. Some others in the corner with their headphones on, I’m not sure who they were communicating with. There’s the guy with the backpack who is also quite friendly with everyone, talking about the church youth gathering he attended the night before.
Mostly folks dressed very casually, shorts, t-shirts, flip flops. Then the young businessman, coat and tie, in a hurry to get to work, but checking out the ladies in the group seating areas.
There were nerds, old folks like me, the business lady in a suit with her phone tucked between her shoulder and her ear, the entire time she was there, while she was ordering, paying, and drinking her coffee. (how do people do that?) I was amazed that the patrons were as interesting and varied as the coffees and smoothies available! (I’m still not too sure about that peanut butter raspberry smoothie I had) It’s like I went to another country, except they were mostly speaking English. Lots of people coming in and going out. Getting their wake-up caffeine, and on their way, others are there to socialize. Students studying and some just watching, like me.
It's interesting to me, how we can get into our own habits, schedules and routines, and not realize that Life Happens, in different ways and in different places. No wonder, that we realize and identify the world from our own perspective, because of the shows we watch, people we know, news we pay attention to, the places we go.
Go somewhere different, change things up, put on some flip flops, or hiking boots; go hang out at a Coffee Shop, or a gym, or the woods, or a bar, or try yoga! … Or do them all!
