A Statement on the Human Condition



Photo by Krankie's Airstream. See
the original in all its museum-
quality artsy-ness on Facebook.

 Looking at this photo by Krankie's Airstream made me think about how great life is in North Carolina. We drive cars. We buy freshly roasted coffee that someone brews for us. We don't have to get out of our cars for it. We pay cash money and have enough left for a tip. The barista smiles and genuinely wants us to have a nice day.

Sure, not everyone in the Triad has a car or the disposable income for a $2 cup of coffee. Not everyone drives on beautiful Reynolda Road to work every day. Heck, not everyone even has a job to drive to.

But, if you're a coffee shop fan and a fan of this blog, chances are, you're doing OK. We don't live in a war-torn country or a dictatorship. We don't live in an impoverished land that's been stripped of its natural resources and devastated by an earthquake. We live in a community that's prosperous enough to help those among us who aren't.

If you have any doubts how lucky we are, take a look at the Winston-Salem Foundation's annual report. Much more than a year-end financial statement, this report showcases the amazing generosity of our city's founding families and the contemporary heroes who continue to give and sustain the legacy. Watch the video about Senior Services and Meals on Wheels on page 23. Do you see the preschooler pushing a cart of food? What a kid! What a mom to introduce him to giving at this age.

If you think you've had a rough day or things aren't going so well for you, stop thinking! Start looking! Look for the generosity that's all around us. Savor the luxuries we take for granted, like hot chocolate made with real milk and Ghirardelli chocolate (thank you, Coffee XChange!). And thanks to our Triad Coffee Shops and Smitty's Notes for reminding us how good we have it around here!

Told Ya So - Life Happens in Coffee Shops

How do I know? I saw it on stage, and everyone knows art imitates life.

If you haven't seen Conversations in a Cafe, today at 5 p.m. is your last chance. It's showing at Korner's Folly in Kernersville. You can get your caffeine fix, too – Performance Coffee Roasters will be there to serve coffee before the show and during intermission. Korner’s Folly has its own coffee blend!

Newton's Cafe in a not-so-fashionable neighborhood of New York City attracts regulars whose paths begin to cross in life-changing ways. There are some characters you might recognize from your favorite coffee shop - the writer who borrows from the conversation around him, the bookworm bookseller who comes to read and chat with her social-butterfly friend, the glamorous city employee who comes to escape the bureaucracy and brush off people who think she's someone famous, the stockbrokers who come to escape from the rat race, and the workaholic accountant. And the ever-present New York character - the waitress who is a struggling young actor.
 
I'm not a theater critic and won't try to be. But I continue to be amazed at the theatrical talent in the Triad from people who live and work among us - many of them at day jobs, just like you and me. Production details are well planned, including the ubiquitous chalkboard menu and the stage hands bussing tables between scenes.

This world-premiere play is about finding love, friendship, and the ever-elusive happiness. I can't give away any surprises, so you'll have to see it yourself!

See my previous blogpost and see the playwright's website for performance details.