Maddymade

Dear Maddy,

You were the first person to serve me at the WSCJ. Being that I have troubles when dealing with new people if I remember correctly I mumbled a lot and spent a lot of time staring intently at the deli case. I think the conversation went something like this:

Maddy: Hey, what can I get for you today?

Me: mmumble mumble coffee, mumblemumble….mumble.

Maddy: What size would you like?

Me: Normal mumble mumble?

Maddy: I think that is a large.

Me: mumble.

Maddy: By the way, my name is Maddy.

Me: ….(looks at deli case)…(looks at chocolate bars)…(looks at deli case again)…

Maddy:…What’s your name?

Me:OH!...Curt mumblemumble.

But despite this awkward introduction, you took it in stride and treated me standard WS manner of brief cordial barista banter that I have come to accept as standard practice at the café. You were always nice to me even if you happen to be beyond the counter (which as far as I can tell is not specifically dictated in the WSCJ employee manual) and would often ask me what I was working, how work was going, and generally seemed interested in my well being.

While again I always have the sinking suspicion that this was a form of mandatory interaction, you never let me feel that way, and it was much appreciated. Once I heard that you were leaving the café to pursue your career endeavors and what not, there was a bit of sadness about the whole thing (this is in part due to my fear of who would be replacing you =) but I have since seen you pop into the café from time to time and it makes the transition easier for my mushy brain.

I am certain in whatever vocation you find yourself working in you will take to it with the same effortless manner in which you served coffee, and obviously friends will be made. I will make due with the occasional head nod / wave whenever you should happen to drop in while I am there. It was as good as a customer / employee relationship can get, and I fear it has spoiled me on what to expect from my baristas in the future.

Today was a great day, but tomorrow our FBfriendship will end,

Curt

Peaberry?...zoombot?!...whu?

Leah,

In many ways this whole thing is your fault indirectly. After a drunken night of FBFriending you and some of your waterstreet cohorts, I gave some serious thought to what exactly I was doing on Facebook. The culmination of that thinking was this blog.

While being a customer at your place of work does not constitute a friendship even under the loosest definition of the term, FBFriends may actually fit. You have always been conversational at the counter (as I assume you are directed to do) quick when serving (as all your fellow baristas are), and courteously acknowledging me as I walk out the door (as per described in your employee manual, page 5, article 13, section 3, sub-section 14). I am sure we will continue to see one another, and interact as we have in the past. So far as I can tell you are a good person, and despite what I said previously here, you genuinely seem to what to know the answer to “How are you doing?” which is always good.

Today was a great day, but tomorrow our FBfriendship will end,

Iced Coffee Guy