Anyway, after going a few weeks, I no longer have to order. The ladies at the counter have my kolache, donut, dozen donut holes, and Pepsi ready to go when I get there. They have even kicked up the dozen to fourteen and fifteen and thrown in a free milk now and then, obviously at an attempt to nourish my soda-sharing, pastry-stuffing child. It's good to be a regular.
I like my donut ladies, but one of the reasons I keep going back to that particular place is my donut dudes. Every single morning, five retired men hang out there drinking coffee and shooting the shit. Every time I would walk in, one of the men would state, "she sure has her hands full" and they'd "mm-hmm" in unison and they'd nod in my direction and go back to their conversation. Over time they've begun talking with Adam, showing him the old nickel behind the ear trick, and taking him to see the fish tank. They coo at Elizabeth and take bets on what color her eyes and hair will be. They have included me as one of the guys. We have discussed the best Adam Sandler movies (The Wedding Singer), who should win the Heisman (Steve Slaton), and the weather, always the weather. If I'm a little late, they get concerned. If I have to miss one Tuesday, I guess I'll have to call to let them know. It really does mean a lot to me that they care. I heart my donut dudes.
It took me eight years, but I finally found my place here. Who knew it would be in a strip mall?
7 comments:
Oh, you're making me miss my donut shop in Memphis.
I have to admit I am a little jealous of your donut dudes. I love hanging with the old crowd like that. They're not rushed, they tolerate children well, and they can tell some stories.
I think there's a t-shirt in here in somewhere....
I can totally relate. We belong to our family church back at home but when we're away at our lake house for the weekend we attend one there. We go after church for a bagel and coffee. After a couple of months, the "church guys" started saying hi, then commenting when we missed a Sunday... "Didn't see you for bagels last week..." And we tell them that we didn't come up or we went to mass Saturday night or we went somewhere else for b'fast...
Who'd have thought I'd be answering to complete strangers? It's not like they're mom and dad... :)
That sounds really fun actually. I love old retired guys who love kids. (So does my son.)
Mmmmm, donuts.
Aww, that's sweet. And I'm totally jealous. Mmmmm, donuts indeed.
I feel the same when I enter Dunkin Donuts here...they have my order ready when they see my car enter the parking lot...and there's always the same homeless man sitting at the table by the door, every now and then, I buy him a donut and set it at his table. He never says thank you, he just smiles and pats my hand. Thats the story of my donut shop! :)
Post a Comment