Lattes of love

I am procrastinating about working on a post about my first 6 months of unemployment. Please stand by.

 

Because it would feel negligent to not use at least some of my now-copious free time for good, I've started volunteering at the Housing Works Bookstore. I'm a barista in the café for four hours a week, a pretty glamourous gig as far as free work goes. I've been taught how to use their old espresso machine [I call it Fredo], I'm working on improving my foaming technique and not scalding myself repeatedly. Every time I make a customer a cappuccino and they don't spit it out, it's a victory. 

I like the customers. The bookstore itself is a charitable organization, the books are all donated and the staff is almost entirely by volunteer. Thus, visitors to the café are generally pretty chill, relaxed about services and product rendered. We're in Soho but we're not in "Soho," and everyone who comes to my counter seems to understand that. Of course I'll give them my best, but for me, the relaxed vibe presents the opportunity for a more social interaction. Remember in The Wrestler when Mickey Rourke goes to work in the supermarket deli and he just comes back to life being around people again? He flirts with the old ladies and makes football jokes with the guys, being in service gets his light shining again. 

That's me in the café. It's so fun to play with people and flirt and make them happy. I haven't become a hermit since i've been out of work but I've missed how much I can shine when I'm working with others, when I can perform a service and make someone smile. Here bubbie, have a brownie, we just made them. Let me bring your espresso to you, sir. The Wifi password today is "danceparty." I've started wearing red lipstick for my shift, it makes me feel that much yummier, and for four hours I can be a lush and happy dispenser of sweets. I'm doing good, and it's doing good for me.