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Sometimes I watch things happen in front of me, and if I didn’t watch them happen, I’d have a hard time believing them. Today, I’m sitting in Starbucks at one of the tables that are in a row of tables that are lined up against a bench under the window of this store. In the center of the store, there is a long communal table. There is also a round table. Between the two tables, by my count, there are 16 places to sit. The tables against the windows have 10, all of which are (and were full).
As I sat here working, I noticed a gentleman who appeared to be a regular come in. He has a cane, and it was also clearly difficult for him to walk. He was very friendly with the team here. They clearly like him as well. I watched a very sweet interaction, and then he made his way to his table with his coffee. His table was one of the window tables. After about half an hour, he got up to go to the restroom. As is pretty common at Starbucks, he left his cup on the table to save his spot while gone.
While he was in the restroom, a lady and her husband walked into Starbucks. My initial thought was that they were a modern version of Thurston Howell, III fromĀ Gilligan’s Island, and his wife, Lovey. Both were well-dressed. He had a yacht club jacket on and a hat that was related to sailing, it appeared. She was also well put together and looked like she should be on a yacht as well.
After ordering, Lovey appeared to decide that the table with just a cup of coffee on it should be there. As she cleared and cleaned the table with a napkin, the gentleman whose table and coffee had belonged to, slowly returned and stated that it was his table. As he hung on to his cane, she simply said “I’m sorry” and proceeded to continue to wipe off the table (that, as far as I could tell, was already clean?). Apparently done with this short conversation, she now ignored our friend with the cane. After waiting a few seconds, he limped out the door.
The couple now sits at the table with their tall coffees, an unopened iPad in a fancy case, and what looks to be a FOB for a European car. They are chatting away on the mildly comfortable bench by the window, apparently completely ignorant of how rude they were and that others in this Starbucks all observed it. I really hope the gentleman with a cane has a great day, and something wonderful happens to him. I really don’t like it when people are unkind and inconsiderate in such a blatant manner. This gentleman’s world is clearly not easy, as he limps around with his cane. Why make it harder?
Often, my Adventures at Starbucks are humorous in nature. Today’s was a little disheartening. I hope it will be a reminder that kindness is important…. even if it is sometimes inconvenient.
On to the next adventure!
