"Hey Derek—the usual?", she asked with a smile I wasn't expecting. It's been a long time since someone pouring drinks knew my name.
Back then, those perks meant free beers at happy hour. Now, I'm realizing in real-time that I must be a regular at this coffee place. So I say, "Actually, switching things up today, Izzy," before adding, "nothing crazy—just a redeye for here please."
She nods with a knowing smirk, turning toward the espresso machine. I start scanning for somewhere to sit when another voice suddenly chimes in, "you're not working today, are you?"
Dana's head appears from around the corner.
Ok, clearly I come here more than I thought, but this is the other thing that makes today different...
"Nope!"
I hear my own grin in the response. It's Saturday, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be working. Well, I guess it depends on how you define work. But today? I'm here to read. Today, I'm going for unusual. I'm not trying to forget about the work week, I just want to recharge my creative battery a bit. No, today my coffee and my book are to make sure I remember.
Lately, I’ve been so focused on crafting stories that I just want to remember what it feels like to be shown one. Which is why I'm holding Fredrik Backman's new book, My Friends, as I make my way to a table near the back. I love the way he uses his characters' inner monologues to critique broader social commentary. When I get too into solving my own shit, like some sort of mental escape-room, I know his writing will crack open a few doors for me.
So, like usual, I'm going to be here for a while.
But instead of getting shit done, today's about unwinding and reminding.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I think mine would be the ability to pause time. Or rather, slow it down so it felt paused—that way we don't fuck with physics too, too much.
onward.
-dmac