Cafe Relationships

     I feel compelled to write about work a lot.  Probably because I spend most of my waking hours there, well I'm mostly awake.  Also because I get to observe people.  People are strange.

     I have said before that complete strangers feel very comfortable talking to me.  This is unfortunate because, in general, I don't like strangers.  They like to talk to me about my red hair, their personal problems, doctor appointments, Saks Fifth Avenue among things.

     On the one hand I can understand why some customers feel like we have a genuine friendly relationship.  I see some of them five or more times a week.  On the other hand, let's just define this relationship: cafe employee and coffee enthusiast.  This does not make me eligible for nicknames; the strangest one I've heard so far is, "Thanks, love muffin!"  I didn't even know Quad Grande Americano's name at this point.  Customers have also divulged impending divorces, upcoming surgeries, and the fact that they drink their beverage everyday in the shower.  This could be perceived as too much information.  Behind the counter we all laugh and swap stories and biographies about our customers.

     One of my coworkers recently informed me that I look friendlier than I am.  Gee, thanks.  My boyfriend calls me "Grandma catnip," stating that they just can't get enough of me.  I do realize that I look friendly, but I also am friendly.  In customer service this is an asset.  Working at this store I have gotten very good at knowing a lot of different customers' names and even more of their drinks.  Usually knowing the beverage comes first.  I am very good at remembering faces. 

     I recently had a secret admirer (yeah, I guess they really exist) call my store.  After answering the phone with my usual salutation (which includes my name), all he said was "Hi Rachel."  This is a normal response to hear from one of my coworkers, so I was trying to figure out who I was talking to so I rebutted with a classy, "Sorry, who is this?"  He said it was a customer that I was nice to, which really narrows it down.  Everyone knows that when I'm having a friendly episode often my niceness will show.  I calmly asked what I could do for him, expecting a large order for coffee or a question about our store hours.  Instead, he asked me out.  Anonymously.  Who does that?  I politely declined and got back to work.  

     When I told my boyfriend about this odd encounter he told me that I may have just missed my opportunity to have a sugar daddy.  Great.  My other friends laughed and thought it was odd, but a, "low-risk endeavor."  Yes low-risk, but also low-reward.  It is just weird.  I have never heard of someone phoning in a date request without even identifying themselves.  Just another day at the office.