Thread by @HoarseWisperer

There is a man at my local Starbucks who comes in every morning and sits for a good, long while.

He’s a retiree. He has the time.

So, each morning he walks to his local coffee place, orders a drink and sits...

1/

For a while, I spent a healthy amount of time at that Starbucks, so I’d see him all the time.

We’d exchange friendly hellos and good mornings. Never talked though.

It has been at least ten years since I first noticed him. He has gotten noticeably older over the years.

2/

He walks slower these days. His posture is a bit more stooped. He brings a little pillow because the hard chairs are just so damn hard.

Still comes in every day though.

And the thing I’ve always marveled at is the company he keeps...

3/

People come in to sit with him.

They sit and talk and eventually leave... and then someone else comes in and soon his table is full again.

As I’ve been typing this, one guest just left and before the man could open his paper, another person walked up to say hello.

4/

I have no idea what the man’s backstory is. I’ve imagined it. A former principal or teacher maybe. A longtime member of the community. A person whose professional life was well known in its time. I don’t know.

I know the guy seems to have led a life well lived though.

5/

If I arrive at my old age in comfortable pants, a baseball cap, a pair of New Balance sneakers and with the constant company of people happy to see me, I will have done well.

I don’t know his backstory but I want to. Maybe next time his other chair is empty...

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