coffee talk

i am not a fan of coffee, but i find myself frequenting Starbucks these past few weeks. it could be the distinct scent of steaming cappuccino at six in the morning, paired with the taste of freshly baked honey glazed doughnuts--well freshly heated, that is; or it could most probably be the fact that this particular branch i visit is in the same building where i work--two elevator rides (yes, one going down from the 16th floor, where i'm usually at and one going up to the 3rd floor, where the shop is located) and a few steps away.

i doubt there's anything unusual about that, most prime office locations are surrounded by coffee shops one way or the other, and our building catering at least four (or maybe five, who knows?) contact centers on several of its 40-plus or so floors is no exception. besides the classy yet understandably convenient eatery (simply called "EAT") that fills most of the third floor, a few widely known shops were already present even before i started working here. even recently, a 24/7 convenience store has opened up on the same floor.

but i do stray from my topic for today, which is coffee... well not so much as coffee, but the rare circumstances that lead me to write about it. but before that, another short anecdote, if you please, and it's rented, don't worry.

i am reminded by the story of this african american woman, (frankly i can't be certain if she was one; i also forgot her name) entitled "passing". The story is about an african-american girl who's not as dark-skinned as most of her race. because of her lighter shade she actually "passes" as a non-black american in their community. the way remember it, she sort of liked doing it, "passing" as someone she's not.

everytime i visit Starbucks i have this urge to "pass". before, when i entered the shop, i kind of think that i must belong. so i act like i am more civilized than my usual self; i'll be careful not to stay too long near the displays of expensive mugs, for fear of being seen as oogling. of course, speaking in english is a must. it has to be clear and with a certain slang, if i could manage one. now, if i were you, i'd learn a li'l bit about the store before you come inside. i mean, letting people hear you say "granade" (think french accent) would be quite embarrassing. (happened to me but thank god only a good friend of mine heard. we laughed it off, gotta learn to do tht when you're "passing".) most people do that i guess, for whatever reasons. i used to do it to belong.

now i just do that for fun. i think i have grown up from that habit, like growing out of moccha frappuccino or caffe mocha. sooner or later you've gotta try the odd ones. (i mean peppermint? wtf!?) {sorry, can't help it when i've regretted trying new stuff and ending up going back to the safer one} anyways, changing names is also fun. it gets to me everytime you give your name to the crew and they don't undersand; not to mention when they get your name wrong, or mispell it. it happens to all but those whose names are used by half the populace. no sense fighting it. me, i just give them a different name all the time. i've been Joe, John, and i think i used Peter once. i haven't tried Mark yet, i confess, (that story there, that's for another time). so there.

my point? well, as a councilman once said, "old men like me don't bother with points." it just makes one grow older faster, is what i usually add to that!