March 7, 2019 — There’s a Starbucks I sometimes pop into on Wednesdays to grab a cup of coffee while running a few errands. For the most part, the staff there is efficient but not too conversational, but yesterday, there was a gregarious young man working behind the counter who insisted on chatting.
I say insisting because I usually just want to grab and go with my coffee. There’s always a thousand things on my mind. So I usually view these interactions like a fencing match, where I try to deflect the questions and escape. But he was persistent.
“How’s your day going?” he asked.
“Good,” I replied, channeling my inner teen, which usually is enough to get out of the conversation.
“Doing anything interesting?” he asked, as he was filling my coffee.
“Just the normal, stuff,” I evaded, taking note of his earnestness and realizing this would be a difficult challenge.
He put the coffee on the counter and was taking my money.
“You’re not off on any adventures?”
That caught me off guard.
“Uh, no. Just got up and living another day,” I said.
“Ah, a new record day for you,” he said and smiled. “Good for you.”
He got me and I smiled at that.
“Yeah, it is,” I replied. “It is good to be alive. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied.
I must admit, I like that idea, that everyday is a new record.
I often tell my son, when things seem to be muddled up and things aren’t going to plan that every day is a gift and you do with it, what you will.
–Rob
Robert Varnon -- R.D. Varnon 