How I Became a Starbucks Stalker - Pt. 2

He had said I wasn't ready and his words just hung there in the think coffee aroma filled air. I didn't say anything, though the curiosity pounded beneath my heart and threatened to leap forth and demand him to tell me what he meant. He sat back in his chair and just let the moment sink in I now suspect. He sipped on his coffee and smiled at another person that had sat down two tables over.

Still puzzling over his comment, I noticed that he was literally having yet another conversation with a young lady and her teenage son, transitioning from me to them with perfect ease. He was asking her questions and making her smile and was even getting a few grins from her teenage son. I watched him without really realizing I was watching him. The way his easy going way seemed to attract other peoples' eye. Even people that were just fixing their coffee with sugar and creamer somehow seemed to be drawn to him and seemed to eavesdrop on what he had to say. I remember thinking this guy must know everyone here but almost immediately I sensed that wasn't the case. These people were strangers to him, at least until that day he decided they weren't.

As I sat there and watched and became lost in my own thoughts, his hand appeared on my shoulder and he said, "This is my friend...um sorry friend, I didn't catch your name," his eyes and the eyes of the woman and her son firmly fixed on me now.

"Ummm, my name is Steve," I sheepishly murmured and offered what had to be a confused smile.

"Oh that's right, it's Steve," he said as if I had told him and he had forgotten. Though I can't honestly say that I had. His attention now returned to the young mother, "Steve and I were just talking about how many fascinating people come through that door." Her attention turned to the door and the growing line.

"I guess I never thought about that," she replied.

"Oh you betcha. So many people with so many stories. I find it quite simply fascinating." Both her and her son now seemed to join us and watch the endless stream of people coming and going. A mutual sense of appreciation for this odd man's observation seemed to settle over us when he chimed in, "So tell me what inspires you young man."

The teenager looked shocked at such a crazy question. His teenage bravado rose to the surface like a pot coming to a boil and then like a magic spell had been cast his expression suddenly changed and he blurted out "art!" The man asked him what kind of art and as if the starter's gun had signaled the beginning of the race, the young man proceeded to tell us all about his love for drawing and the artists he was currently studying and hoping one day to emulate. He spoke for what had to be nearly five minutes straight with nary a breath taken, his proud mom looking adoringly on the whole time.

I watched as age was transcended and replaced with enthusiastic interaction. There wasn't an age gap between my new friend and this teenager, just good conversation. I found myself pulled squarely into this kid's passion despite knowing little about art myself. The old man however, seemed to know a good bit about the subject and asked the boy question after question which he enthusiastically answered until his mom interrupted with a polite reminder he still had school and she had work. I remember being disappointed as I was thoroughly enjoying the back and forth.

We all stood up and exchanged handshakes all around. "You two have a wonderful day. Don't forget to stop and enjoy it you hear?" They both smiled and shook their heads. "Good luck with your art my friend," he said to the young man, gripping his hand and patting him on the back. "I expect the next time we meet you will show me some of your drawings yes?" The kid looked as if he was about to explode with appreciation and excitement; a look I was amazed by, given the cool bravado he had shown just minutes earlier. With that they left and we returned to our two seats.

"You really got that kid going," I said as both a comment and question.

"Ah I didn't do much. Just asked the right questions. He did all the heavy lifting," he smiled and snorted with a look of real satisfaction. "You will be amazed at what simple, unassuming questions can reveal about someone if you just have the courage to take a chance and ask." With that he got up from the table and said, "You will learn. See you soon."

We exchanged handshakes and with that he was gone. A horrible feeling washed over me as I realized I had failed to get his name. A sense of panic set in at the total lack of manners and I immediately got up from my table, grabbed my stuff and rushed out to the parking lot to find him. But he was gone.

I hoped 'see you soon' meant tomorrow.

How I Became a Starbucks Stalker - Pt. 1

About ten years ago now (gosh that long ago?), I found myself sipping on a pipping cup of dark roasted coffee and pounding away on my keyboard. I was in my typical zone of getting work done before actually going into the office and doing some more work. I had found that Starbucks opened early and I could arrive promptly at 5:30AM and grab a cup and work in relative comfort and privacy and as I settled in to tackle that morning's project, my perspective was about to be altered just slightly.

I was knee deep in crafting a new sales strategy for my team when a kindly older gentleman sat down at the table next to mine. I looked up ever so briefly, made eye contact and smiled. A favor he returned as he unbuttoned his jacket and settled in to enjoy his morning coffee. A few moments passed and the buzz and noise level began to rise within the store because more people were filing in and grabbing their jolt of java. I looked up from my laptop to survey the scenery and he must have noticed and he let out a sort of half chuckle. I looked over at face filled with amusement and a smirk that told a story - though at the time I didn't have the foggiest idea what that story might be.

"Look at 'em. Everyone is in such a damn hurry to grab their coffee and get to where ever they need to be going. Sort of sad don't you think?" My attention now squarely focused on him and the look on my face must have noted my confusion in his comment so he clarified. "People. I mean the people in line. Look at them." I did. "Everyone is so antsy and so focused. They all look the same but are so different too. And no one is talking to one another, did you notice that?" I hadn't before but now, as if discovering some rare trinket of treasure, my eyes shot wide open at what his observation unveiled to me. No one was talking. Heck no one was even smiling. It was sad. I remember that feeling wash over me to this day.

It was one of those moments where I could have easily dismissed this complete stranger's ramblings and decided that no work would be possible with chatty Kathy (no offense to any Kathy's out there -- mine especially) sitting next to me and packed up right then and there. But for some odd reason I didn't. In fact I just sat there. A minute passed by, then two, then three. I have no idea how long we both sat there fixed on the endless parade of people coming in and out of the door.

Being a people watcher I have always enjoyed watching people at airports and malls and places like that but before that fateful day, I had never thought about doing it at a Starbucks. I was an entranced when suddenly I realized the old guy was now in full conversation with someone at the next table. They chatted like old friends, which at the time was what I assumed they were. As they continued their conversation I opened up a new word document on my laptop and typed the word - People. I had no idea what it meant at the time as I my eyes darted between the black lettering, the blinking cursor and yet more new faces each minute coming in and out of the Starbucks door.

"Sorry about that. Made a new friend. Two actually," the old man said leaning closer to my table.

"Oh no big deal. New friends? I figured that was someone you already knew," I said.

"Nope. Just met them today. A husband and wife that come here every morning. They share a car into work. Fascinating people."

"Fascinating people? How do you know that if you don't know them," I asked sort of annoyed at his insistence that they were new friends but so obviously not.

"My boy almost everyone I meet at a Starbucks is fascinating. They all have a story and so desperately want to tell it and will...all you have to do is ask."

It seems my new friend has no problem starting a conversation with just about anyone who walks by his table. Despite going to that same location for a while, I had never seen this man before but he insisted that he had been there every day and I had simply failed to notice him. My mind was atwitter thinking back at the many early mornings I had been there wondering if he even looked familiar. Nothing.

"Easy tiger, don't strain something. We haven't met until today because you weren't ready." With that my new friend leaned back to his table, took a long sip of coffee and smiled at me.

Ready for what I wondered.

Remember To Soak It In

My dad is visiting us from Albuquerque this week. That means lots and lots of fishing! So far on our two limited outings dad hasn't done nearly as well as we had hoped. In fact yesterday, Josh my almost five year old, put us all to shame out-catching us all with a little Nemo pool. Sad.

I don't know how many times I caught myself this weekend, but it was more than a few, just watching my dad. It's as if my brain was on auto-camera mode trying its best to capture his looks when he did (finally) catch something or how he reacted to watching both Zach and Josh on the boat. His smiles. His laughs. Those moments I don't get nearly enough of because we see each other so little these days. Also sad.

It is times like these that I am reminded that I just need to stop and soak it in. Dad is getting older and I know he won't always be around and that hurts my heart so much that I can't breath when I think about it. I know his day to day life caring full-time for my mom who is in the late stages of Alzheimer's is taking a toll on him and it's trips out here that help to recharge his batteries a bit. It's his visits that do the same for me.

Moments are so fickle. They come and go so quickly that we often take them for granted and rarely appreciate them for the true gifts that they are. It's hard to remember to stop and take a breath and soak it in, but we must.

So my Ripple friends, whether you are spending time with you aging parents, hanging out with you kids, holding hands with your better half or simply having coffee with a good friend, remember to stop and soak it in. That mental snap-shot of time will be a gift you will treasure for years to come.

Ripple On!!!