Ricardo, that is what his name tag on his blue worker’s suit says, is sitting on the table opposite to ours. He has finished his scrambled eggs with bacon and country potatoes and is now having a good portion of french toast. He is drinking orange juice. Having the elbows on the table, he is observing first the right and then the left side of the room inside and the space outside by turning his head over his shoulders. Me and my partner are late for breakfast today, it is already half past eleven. This is the time where you meet the graduate student groups, couples in their late twenties and team mates who are going for an early lunch to avoid the masses. A smile and the waitress is saying: “Thank you.”, before Ricardo is leaving through the door.
Our waiter, always full of energy and dancing coffees between the tables, remembers what we are used to drink. The other day we came to that breakfast place another unknown waitress who of course did not know us, did also not know what we are known for to drink and as she was asking us what we wanted to have, it did not easily come to our minds what we actually were wanting to have. Our waiter has his own kind of marketing strategy, he tries really hard to memorize all his clients needs and is building emotional connections. It seems much more honest than in places like Starbucks. Cops love him, that is what his shirt is saying today. His secret code language involves three tips with his pointing finger on the table which means “I’ll be back with your orange juice in just a minute, alright.”
A man, a funny man, just a little bit too fat is saying that he is going to claim that table where Ricardo was sitting before. The very cool couple in their late twenties who was sitting by the door is leaving now and as the door is swinging, I am noticing the November California sun shining in. There is not much going on outside, but many cars are parked on the grey asphalt. The business lunchers are beginning to show up, having a quick look at the place we are sitting in right now and then deciding to continue to the neighbor panini shop which promises more international flair.
We are feeling good, because the people know us here and out of our shy newness we sprouted a social anchor point in our physical neighborhood.