Coffee Shop Etude in A Minor

There is something unfetteringly romantic about coffee shops. Maybe it's all the Nora Ephron movies I've seen, or the romantic jazz I'm listening to at Starbucks right now. But there just is something special about hiding in a corner and peering out to watch all the people coming in, approach the counter with indecision, walking up to the line with slight hesitation or resolution, waiting expectantly for the anticipated cup of coffee, a trophy after much inner debate. After sprinkling ornaments of spices, cocoa powder or half-and-half, step through the door with seemingly more direction than they did before arriving moments ago.

And here I am, sitting in my own corner next to the window to allow some rays of reality to keep me awake, with my New York Times and the companionship of a notebook and pen, watching, memorizing, imagining, disappearing. I am part of the decor, melting in with dainty chairs and tables, painted walls and wall art and cries of "Venti non-fat mocha" and "Would you like your receipt".

Sometimes I would wait for someone to notice me. No, not becdause I am an eager flirt, but because I want to see who would notice my quiet little corner of universe. A small burst of excitement would go off inside when someone makes eye contact. My smile might bloom in return if someone smiles at me ... but that does not happen too often, either because they are too involved with listening to the voices of their own thoughts, or I too invisible. For this reason, the ones that do, I consider somehow special in a whimsical, "coffee shop romantic" kind of way. Sometimes a hope (or just a bout of caffine high) might surface that they are doing exactly what i am doing -- just watching snippets of life fly by in the morning ....

If each person is a story, then all of our stories had just came across and met for a moment here at Starbucks this morning. We all made a difference in each other's lives with a touch, or a hello, a thank you, good day, or an eye contact, a smile, a conversation, or something distinct that spark imagination -- even happiness, albeit temporary.