The Little Barista

I'm standing in my kitchen searching for the audiobook that had sounded so interesting only a few days ago.... something about how our perceptions define our reality. This week, over a foot of snow covered our driveway in a pristine blanket of beauty. So naturally I was preparing myself to startup the old tractor and plow it into several large brownish heaps that we can stare at for weeks. Plowing snow can get really boring, so I really wanted to listen to that book! I should have written it down. Instead I settle for some book on story telling instead. After 2 sessions of plowing my driveway, a few hours of listening to this book, and a week cooped up at home, we reopen our coffee house this morning. For a Saturday, it feels really slow. The snow is finally beginning to melt, but the roads still aren't all that great. So we hang out with our friends and family in the dining area. As we realize the typical Saturday morning rush isn't gonna be much of a rush, I pull the last Christmas present for Declyn (my grand-daughter) out of the back room. The one that I've felt bad about having not already put together for her... It's been 2 weeks since Christmas, and she doesn't even know about it yet. But life got in the way: we had plans, there were holidays, we had work, then there was snow... I knew they were excuses, so I was frustrated with myself. Which is why I find myself, during our "busiest time of the week", digging in the far back room, under and around all of the boxes of Christmas decorations reminding me of the delay, for the unmarked box that contains her present. As I emerge into the dining area, Declyn runs up to me and stops directly in my path, excited to see the large, heavy box I'm carrying. She "helps" me open the non-descript brown box to discover another box within, this one with a picture of what's inside. It the cutest little coffee cart you've ever seen! All made of wood, it has an espresso machine (with steam wand and portafilter), a credit card machine (with a little wooden credit card), and a cup w/ lid to make coffee into. It even has a little tip jar! Mariah brought out the box I wasn't aware of... a basket of wooden pastries! Cinnamon Rolls, and croissants, and muffins! oh my! Declyn helped me open the box and helped me put it all together (at least until the espresso machine was completed). She made coffee! She steamed milk! She served food! She ate food! She sold coffee! She drank from the little cup! She sold coffee after she drank from little cup! We reported her to the pretend health department! She played with it for HOURS! At one point she required me to make all the sound effects as she pretended to make espresso and steam milk... glaring and prodding at me until I made all the "KRRRT-CHSSSSS" and "SHHHKSSSSSKSSK" noises while she pressed the buttons and turned the knobs. This was my favorite part of the day. The part where I realized just how happy I was that business was slow today. This evening, I am grateful that I couldn't remember the name of the book I wanted to read. Just yesterday, in a book named Storyworthy, Matthew Dicks gave me homework for life: To take 5 minutes to document the most story-worthy part of my day. I might not have thought to capture this moment if my memory were a little better. This book has already made an impact on my life, it has made me look at the moments in my life differently. I am also grateful that we didn't give Declyn the Barista set on Christmas. If we had, it may have become just another toy and not such a powerful memory for me. Sometimes, the best things in life only come together because what we wanted to happen, didn't.