Sometimes the
briefest of conversations can cheer you up.
I have got into
the habit of visiting my favourite coffee shop almost daily. It offers
a change of scenery if I’ve got nothing else on – and I find it much easier to
get on with any work that needs doing, or my writing, when I’m out of the
house.
It’s also a good
way of pretending I’m not waiting for my agent to ring.
I visit the
coffee shop regularly enough to have a “usual”.
All I need is a
Ted Danson-a-like behind the counter for the transition to be complete.
I’m usually in my favourite haunt by mid-morning. Today I arrived a little later – and, for
no particular reason, was soon getting irritated by the woman in front of me in
the queue.
She had one of
those old-fashioned shopping-bag-on-wheels things in tow (the elderly's trolley-of-choice) – and despite being tiny, she still somehow managing to fill
up the entire aisle, leaving me no sufficient space to stand.
I like to get
wound up by nothing; it’s one of my favourite pastimes. I quietly stewed in my
own juices and waited my turn to be served.
After a moment I
started to sense that she was looking my way. I subtly turned to check, and
found her gazing up at me, beaming from ear to ear.
“I’m having the
loveliest day”, she said.
All tension was
swiftly diffused; you can’t really be annoyed with someone after that.
We had a little
chat whilst we waited. She filled me in on what had made her day so lovely -
nothing huge, really; just a little shopping – but the way she retold it made
it all sound delightful. Then we shook hands, I said that I hope her day
continued to be nice, and we went our separate ways.
Note to self:
don’t be such a miserable git. Also, see if you can source one of those old lady shopping trolleys.
