newest friend.

I work at a coffee shop and have for about four months now.  As you can all imagine, what a perfect place for small conversation and a warm drink.  Well you're right. But as the barista sometimes it's not as simple as that.  With people to please and things to do in a hurry there are often times when people walk in and I think to myself, "I want to talk to them" but they come and go and I'm left with only the few words of 'thanks for my drink' and in response I say have a wonderful day!  or something to that effect and am left with questions and thoughts never being said.  It's the pits.

But however there are the few times when it's slow and I don't have too much to do and I can take a second and interact with people that come in.  Or when my regulars come in and they know just by seeing me that we have something to talk about.

Let me take this chance to tell you about one of my favorites.  I didn't just meet him but he's still new to my collection of friends and I just enjoy him so much.  We'll call him stan.  Stan is probably in his 60's and lives in our town.  When he comes in and knows I've been there since 5:30 he greets me with a "good morning sunshine!"  We talk about the weather and he tells me all about the churches he helps and how involved he is in the community.  We talk about how neither of us have TV cause we dont need them and we can read the news in the paper or online.  How we like the joy of reading good books and we're not so sure about kindles or nooks but that's the direction our world is going.  Stan is simple, he's genuine and he loves good conversation.  He'll often just stop in the shop to say hi and chat, which I appreciate.

One day, I hope I remember to live my life as simple.  Maybe he didn't choose to live that way and would rather not but he's playing the cards he's been dealt and he is the most positive about it.  Talk about spreading joy to so many people.