I've upped my doses of chamomile tea, and I think it's helping. I open my mouth to scream, but I can't ever. All I hear is a growl, like a wolf choked by a leash. I talk to myself at Starbucks, and other partners listen in and they interrupt my personal conversations. I've resorted to covering Julie Andrews songs, from the Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. Also the Beatles and a little Bob Marley. When I'm especially high on caffeine, I'll make up my own rhymes -- out loud and on the fly. I try to engage customers. I don't even look at them. I wake up from Africa and realize their double tall latte, however much they desire it, is insignificant. My job as a barista is not to make coffee; my job is to validate people. When you order a drink and I say "yes," I've given you control of my life. You are a higher human being because I've sold my time to you for three fifty four.
It's eighty degrees in my room. There's a court date tomorrow. I'll be back in court for Jury duty soon. Whitworth withdrew some of their financial aid. I don't know where I'm going to live in Spokane.
I'm twenty one and I want to smoke my pipe. I'm twenty one and fearless (I have nearly nothing to lose). I'm twenty one and I never answer my cell phone. I'm twenty one and I'm just that much closer. I need to go. My days are running together.
just a morsel on the barista thing. you can suck on it, munch on it, taste it, spit it out, whatever...
ReplyDeletebut it does seem unnecessarily pessimistic to view yourself as having "sold" the customer superiority - or that they would assume such a position. Maybe it's only because we are decent people but do you feel that power when you order coffee - or anything at all from someone in a service position? I know I haven't.
Perhaps they can only assume that power if you give it to them. Don't give it to them. Refuse to be dominated either by customer or by cynicism and find what it is in the shop that is the reason for you. Dont be lost in the distraction of sucky work or you may miss the whole point. I refuse to believe that there is anything we can go through that is pointless or without benefit. The only key is finding the benefit and thriving off it when that is all that will keep you going.
The only reason I pay $3.74 for a latte is so I don't have to make it myself. Not trying to be superior to the coffee maker. And it's just a bonus that they make it better than do I. Since I can't afford a $5,000 cappucino machine.
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