I almost missed it.
Walking toward the bus tub to drop my dirty dishes, I spot a table card holder with something wedged in the top on the table across from where I'd been sitting. I'm at a coffee shop. It's one I've been to before, but not in a good, long while.
Still smells the same, though.
I smirk.
Actually, I came here a lot during college. I used to get up at like 4am to go splitboarding before class and it's near a mountain I went to regularly. In those days, I'd swing through to grab coffee and one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had on my way back to class. Now, I live here. Maybe this will be my new (old) spot? It's changed ownership a bunch of times since then and stumbled through a bit of a rough patch, wherein they desecrated my beloved breakfast sammie and burned the hell out of the coffee (which is, ultimately, why I stopped going).
Tapping my pockets to make sure I have my phone, my eyes flit past that table with the metal table-tag on it and confirm my table behind it is, in fact, empty. Placing my empty mug in the bus bin, my eyebrows bounce upward while I'm mulling over the resurgence of their coffee quality. Maybe I'll have to give this latest owner's bacon egg and cheese a try... but only maybe. I'm not ready to have my heart broken like that if it goes poorly. I don't need it to be what it once was, it just can't be worse than it became.
Turning around, I scan the place—its layout, the décor. For all the times this place has changed hands, the name's stayed the same. I... I just don't get that. My head bobs to the side. Of course, I'm sure I'd have been incredulous at the time had they changed it. But it wasn't seamless, you know? It was very noticeably different, not even trying to be like its predecessor(s).
Rather than continue walking to the door, my feet decide to stop. I'm not sure I gave them permission to do such a thing, but here we are. Yeah, ok... I know... we're not in a hurry, I tell myself, because I need reminding.
It's that table with the metal tag-holder thingy on it.
Ok, fine, let's have a look.
"Reserved"
It's a reserved sign that's wedged into the top of the holder. And, upon closer inspection, there's a picture on the other side of it. In it, a group of women are sitting and smiling, leaning in close together, at what appears to be this very table.
"This table is reserved for this group daily at 9am," the card reads.
This group has coffee together almost every morning?
Here??
Ok, that's just awesome. Right on, ladies. Love that for you. If you like this place that much, perhaps our paths will cross sometime very soon.
I'm looking forward to it.
* * *
When's the last time you went somewhere old, looking for something new?
onward.
For more on this daily column, read the backstory here. And if you know someone who'd appreciate this, pass it along.