If I were to sit here for an entire day I would see the regulars coming in and out (from the patio to the counter and indoor tables) all day long. When I talk about the regulars here at satellite, I mean people that would be here on Christmas if the place was open. They are here everyday. I do not know most of them by name. There is that creepy older guy who often strikes up conversations with younger women about who knows what. There is the painter who looks European, mostly Italian. There is the old lady who sips her coffee while reading the newspaper, probably getting her lipstick stains all over the white cups that they use here. They are all friends too! They are adults, over 50 who come here everyday to drink coffee and experience life and each other. It's beautiful. If you come to satellite enough, chances are you will have at least a conversation with each regular.
Satellite also has it's own set of "rules" that people just figure out and follow regularly. If I leave a book on a table and go get my food and coffee, people know that that table is taken. People know that they can share a community table by the couches and the larger community table by the window. They never just join you at a small table in the circular couch toward the entrance of the shop. These tables are small enough for one or two people, but strangers should never just join up. At the counter by the window, you never sit by another person, you always leave a chair in between you and the next stranger. Unless there are absolutely no chairs left, you do not sit there.
If you happen to listen to the nearest conversation, you must do your best to ignore it if possible. Coffee shops are reserved for the most intimate and secretive of conversations that should not be taken outside by bystanders. If you can't help but listen to the conversation, simply join in! If the two friends next to you are talking about an ex-girlfriend or a naked sleepwalking new roommate, just offer up some tips. It will catch them a little off guard, but since it is in this intimate coffee shop space they will soon warm up to you and invite you into their conversation. If they do not let you into their conversation, simply keep talking to them. This is the UNM area, perfect strangers joining in on a conversation is normal. If you are sitting uncomfortably close to someone who is having a juicy conversation, you want to listen, but you don't want to seem obvious, just throw in some head phones. This will ensure that you are listening to something else that is far more important. If you happen to laugh at what the next person is saying, take a quick glance at your computer screen, there is always something funny online at a free wi-fi coffee shop. It will be assumed that the window you have open is what is making you laugh.
These are just some tips. More to come.
3 comments:
I like the bit about undercover eavesdropping--that's one of my hobbies, but I tend to fail spectacularly at being discreet.
Have you seen Toy Story 3 yet? It's really great and I want to see what you have to say about it.
(You don't have to like it just because I do, I guess, but really, you're going to.)
Clara! I have seen toy story 3 and I did love it a lot. I think my next post is going to be about why I cried during toy story 3.
Post a Comment