Welcome to where the seeds of dreams are planted--where one can sip from the charmed chalice of life & meet interesting folk through (hopefully) intelligent conversation.

One never knows nor can expect who will sail into the fray--what we do know is that no soul here is perfect no matter how we try. So let us celebrate & raise our mugs to the idiosyncratic nature of life--to the Kramer's & Norm's of the world, the Roseanne's & Allan Poe's. Some old, some lost, some tortured, some blessed, all souls sharing a drink at the same time in the same place. The ensuing tales are authentic with names trending towards monikers. The flag waving on our doorstep means we're open, so come perk your curiosity in Le Harbor Bungalow Cafe.

Bonjour! Mesherfin! Hasta la vista! Your barista.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A Gifted Conundrum

Gray clouds cover the harbor this early autumn morning, as well as the popular waterfront neighborhood, the Point called Fells.  Patrons scurry off the sidewalk and out of the misty rain, collapse their umbrellas and yawn their caffeine orders across the counter of le Harbor Bungalow Cafe.  How would America ever operate without caffeine and sugar?--our protagonist, the barista wonders.

The weather this morning reminds the barista of the final day of the Harbor Fest--the first Sunday of this month.  He arrived for his 11 a.m. shift at le Harbor Bungalow Cafe in his brown corduroy barista hat that morning hungover like a homeless war veteran passed out on a bench at the Korean war memorial one neighborhood east of the cafe--only without the irony.  His head as foggy as the skies above.

So why did he get so drunk wearing the hat of bassist at Betters of Lead?  A cafe patron asked him as much as the barista pressed the roasted coffee grounds.

"They were gifts, ya know," answered the barista.  "I feel it's bad luck to turn down a gift.  People are happy to give, who am I to make them unhappy by turning down or passing along a nice frosty, 8.5% alcoholic brew?  So, like Curt the night before, I took one for the team. Okay, I took five for the team.  It's not as easy as it looks."

Despite his sleepy state, the barista continued to justify his position that morning...or was he exposing a weakness?  "Some folks like a drunk band.  There is a certain charm to it.  It allows the crowd to share in the feeling of being vulnerable--to the effects of alcohol that is.  Others give to kind of test the musician--but that usually comes in the form of a shot of some sort."

Betters of Lead, like many bars in many cities across America, pays a modest amount to the acts they book.  Many musicians, like our protagonist, look forward to a few choice beverages as part of the trade-off for the the live entertainment they provide.  In many cases, the better the band, the drunker they become--at least in this neighborhood.  A funny conundrum. 

2 comments:

  1. The ongoing mock-heroics make for a great tone. Have you read Hunter S. Thompson? I'm assuming you have, but if you haven't, get yourself some Fear and Loathing. And don't be deceived by his casual persona. It disguises some scary-smart and carefully crafted work.

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  2. The barista represents an interesting dilemma that seems to define his character. His honesty allows him to be pleased with the outcome of his decisions. The genuine tone makes you believe the barista's reasoning, even if he appears to be foolish.

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