y'all can't all be wrong: SOTW Vol 7: The Man Behind The Counter

Artist: Coldplay
Song: Warning Sign
Album: A Rush of Blood to the Head
Year: 2002

While visiting San Francisco -- sure -- have a literati moment and visit City Lights Bookstore. But if you want yeoman enlightenment (it's better than you think), make a visit to City Limits Restaurant in Bremerton, Washington.

Bremerton is an economically and Prozacally depressed city. I get to go there frequently by virtue of my job. Today, I went to City Limits for lunch. The guy behind the counter took for-fucking ever to take my order. I was seething with all the nastiness that writers block and sleep deprivation produces -- and I was just about to give him a super urbanized "what the fuck is taking so long?" when a rare Seattle ray of sun beamed of wave of empathy into every part of my soul.

I gained awareness that the guy behind the counter put his heart and soul into the restaurant. And while I am off to New York City, frolicking in pinwheel fashion and pretending to be so cosmopolitan -- he's back in a nothing town taking care of his own. I hope to God his dream is bigger than my actualities. 'Cause, the thing is this guy waited on me hand and foot -- and he didn't call me a hippy-faggot for my purple sunglasses, and he didn't flinch from my initial dissatisfaction with him --regardless that he probably did feel my irritation and probably didn't understand my garb. He went through the trouble of custom-making my home-fries without green peppers (I abhor them) and just before I left, he gave me a free Dr Pepper to go. All of this and the place has live jazz and omelets all day long (the omelets not the jazz).

So Mr. Man behind the counter, SOTW Volume 7 is for you. I'll be off on my journeys everywhere, royally exercising all that is privileged; my neighbors will be right at home Mike-Tysoningly-slamming their doors for whatever reason, but at least the world will know; but you mister counter man, you will be at work, tending to your customers, soaking in the evening jazz, all the while enjoying the thrill of filling your humble space in the world.

We'll meet again kind fellow -- maybe play a game of Euchre or two. In the meantime enjoy this melancholy song -- it could have been so much better if it was written for you rather than (ostensibly) some anonymous chick.

Peace, TQ

Addendum, I found this looking for a City Limits webpage. They are probably commonplace, but the disco ball is such a great juxtaposition to the bleakness of Bremerton.

Comments

Hi TQ,
I'm just now catching up with your blog and I must say it looks *so* much better. I hope you are enjoying MT and maybe I'll read that you are farther down in the posts.

How long will you be in NYC? Do you have time for a side trip up to Montreal on the 17-20th?

Back to your post. I liked this one about the counter guy and your moment of introspection. I think I'm looking for a blue collar cowboy with a good work ethic, an easy sense of humor, and some distant dreams that he believes can come true. Someone who knows and loves who they are and have had enough ups and downs already to have built some depth and character. Someone traditional who opens doors, wants a family, likes sports, and drinks beer. And wine. And mojitos. Maybe I ought to start looking behind counters.

Posted by: Jen Leo @ July 4, 2003 09:05 AM