How Do They Do That?
Every time I pass one of those hip, funky, cool coffee joints and see people actually sitting in them, drinking something, making believe they are working on their computers or editing spreadsheets I ask myself, “How do they do that?”
First of all, I am not a coffee snob. I know what I like. A cupa Joe that slaps me in the face, rich, earthy…I want the inside of my mouth to cry when I drink coffee. The few times I’ve been in a fancy-smanchy place I order the darkest coffee they have on tap that day. When I get in line behind people who order frapa,mocha,he-ho,skim, light, no cream, latte-doodles I always start laughing. Seriously. Go eat a candy bar for crying out loud.
Then I think of my grandpa. Gandpa Goodreau, my mom’s dad, who was so poor he drank coffee from the same grounds for like a month and then substituted something else that was brown and really cheap when he ran out of the real stuff. Well, as usual, I digress.
I want to go sit in a coffee shop, write poems, drink tar-black coffee and ignore the people who sit aorund me. I’m serious. I can just never find the time to do it and I know me. I’d look up, see someone interesting-which in my case would be anyone-and start a conversation. Pretty soon I’d be hauling out photos of my kids, inviting them over for Christmas dinner, showing them the scars on my stomach. Coffeee shops, as I see it, are places to socialize, meet people, warm up on the insides and outsides.
So when I see all the people sitting alone and trying not to make eye contact I wonder how they do it. I also have a really hard time not going up to them, pulling down the sleeve of my jacket, and wiping off the foam that’s on their lips from their la-la drinks.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:30 am
You always make me smile with these…
December 15th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
coffee shops used to be a place to meet friends and talk about nothing for hours .. now we pay more for a coffee and a blueberry muffin than the “no -personality ” clerk makes in an hour.. mind you it is also like bike week in daytona.. one can dress for show and no one will question you, people are afraid to say i love your skirt, or may i sit with you.. give me the old style coffee shop anytime, one cup of coffee could last all morning, and still only cost a buck… billie
December 15th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
My favorite coffee, after a pot at home, is the good ole gas station $1.29 cup! It takes better than that bitter stuff (which is REALLY why they have to have all that frappe, fou-fou stuff added), and I’m saving a whole lot of pocket change for the next Kris Radish book!!!
December 15th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
You have it so right. I think it is like drinking mud. I have lived my whole life in California and still am amazed by what we do. It is totally about the image and not always about the content. The coffee shop in Los Gatos is where you go after you workout, bike, whatever. People have been know to hose themselves off to make it look like they worked out really hard. Give me a break !
I am so very sorry for your troubles here, it sucks! Crime is out of control and no one is doing anything about it. We can be nice in California, but it is harder to find these days. We still say hi to strangers and try not to bump into you, but the days of I am sorry, excuse me are pretty much gone.
Anyway, I have loved having you in California, loved your spirit and your sense of humor. My best friend is in Tampa, so I will jsut have to visit you in Florida when I go.
Can’t wait to read my first Radish book. I feel like such a virgin.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:43 am
I love coffee…..just plain old good coffee. I have always wished that my husband liked coffee, so as to enjoy a cup together. Will be a requirement next time I choose one………….
December 16th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Hey Radish,
You are a magician, you know, truly an artist. I am addicted to your blogs – makes me feel like you are right over there somewhere between Milwaukee and Madison. I just read 2 of your books back-to-back and, upon your advice, rereading “Dancing Naked” to get my head out of you-know-where. As I told you, I need to know how the minor characters from “Elegant Gathering” are doing (Mitzi, etc). They’ve been on my mind.
I delved into “Paradise” on Saturday night and didn’t close the book until I finished it Sunday afternoon. I was thinking it would be a great movie but since you write so gloriously and descriptively, it became a movie in my mind.
Wishing you, Madonna, Andrew and Rachel a magical holiday season.
Smooches,
Liz