He actually went to Krispy Kreme and bought a bunch so the staff could try them. I thought they tasted a little like maple syrup (not a bad thing) and then spent the rest of my day reading the company history on the Wikipedia and Googling news articles about the company’s fall from grace and subsequent stock crisis.
Great boss. Great day.
I remember one day in my childhood, maybe in the winter of 1990. My brother took me to Dunkin Donuts at the corner of West Avenue and Jackson-Keller. It was cold. I think it was a Saturday morning. And some crusty, old guy walked into Dunkin Donuts, sat at the bar (isn’t that great – a bar at a donut shop) and told the woman behind the counter to get him “his usual”.
We laughed about that guy for awhile and then we talked about sports and ate donuts and drank chocolate milk together.
Love my brother. Never forget that day.
I spent 18 months working at Starbucks. I cleaned toilets and catered to finicky suburbanites and their caffeine addictions. Everything that would make a person hate a company existed. I even snubbed the CEO when he visited our store.
Yet, one Sunday morning, Stef and I were returning home from a trip to Dallas and we stopped in Temple for a refueling. The car had plenty of gas. I needed something to prop open my eyelids. We stopped at Starbucks. I got a banana nut muffin and a way-too-complicated espresso drink. They were perfect. They staff was friendly. The bathroom was clean. And I felt somehow better as we drove away.
Gained a new appreciation for Starbucks and Stef. Haven’t had a muffin like that since.
There are days that burn themselves into our memories for some reason or another. They are amalgamations of people and products and just times when everything seemed okay.
I have found myself thinking about donuts and espresso a lot recently.
I have decided that maybe I’m not craving donuts or coffee at all. Maybe I am just craving one of those days when everything (and everybody) seems to be okay.
I hear ya man.. Ryan and I had a day like that last Friday. Ate at the BK Lounge (9000 calories of death), went hiking up steep cliffs of slippery rocks in the cold and rainy weather, but we had an amazing day! It was near perfection. The conversations, the brotherhood, the beauty of nature, it was all there...well, everything but you! We are already reserving you for a return trip. Like you said, we are just craving one of those days when everything (and everybody) seems to be okay.
ReplyDeleteI understand...you miss the familiar, the routine, the ordinary, the feeling of belonging right where you are and of not standing out for once. Soon...
ReplyDeleteShannon ;)
I am almost positive that the reason you didn't like Starbucks when you worked there is because of the guy that drank a hot chocolate and ate a cream cheese danish every morning...not to mention Weigggggg. And I'll leave it at that. As far as what was said by Jeff I couldn't agree with him more. I can't wait to go hiking with you...and even more than that making terrible jokes that only we (Jeff, Ryan, and Kyle) get. I thank God for you and can't wait to see you where eveything (and everybody) seems to be okay
ReplyDeleteI happen to LOVE the Starbucks in Temple. I stop there often on my way to Dallas.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes a difference, I worked for a fast food chicken store when I was in high school. To this day, I can't stand the chain nor do I eat a whole lot of chicken.
It is all relative.
Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks are all comfort foods. It is okay to crave a little comfort now and again.
Praying for you both,
Sara Gwathmey
Burkholder blog lurker