Hello my friends. I am sorry I have been away so long...writer's block perhaps. The sunny side is still there. Still like nowhere else in the world. Nor are the customers. Or maybe everyone is like our customers. There is a man who comes in, let's call him Allen. He is a member next door, as are many of the most interesting and sad people I will write about. He is maybe in his late fifties, early sixties. He looks much younger. He attributes it to a form of meditation he has done since his early twenties. He never tips. In fact, if his bill comes to $1.99 and he pays with $2.00, no matter how busy we are, or how long it takes, he will wait for his penny.
Allen is madly in love with a women named, Jan. She is much older, in her seventies and in poor health. She is in a nursing home. Her family does not like Allen. He is on a fixed income and can only come up with bus fare to visit her every couple of weeks or so. But he does, faithfully. Allen is a writer of sorts. He writes about his life with Jan. Their love, their children. The art classes they share. The kind of van they drive. Their home. Allen and Joan have never had any life other than their visits. They have not lived together.
He writes the same story over and over. It is so beautiful, and tragic. It breaks my heart and takes my breath away every time I read it.
I used to ask about his latest version every time I would see a new folder in his hand as he sat at the counter. But I have stopped. It got too sad. But Allen is not sad. He sits at the counter with a small Mona Lisa smile on his face, because he doesn't feel like it is a story. Maybe the reason he writes the same basic thing over and over is because he believes it or thinks if he writes it enough it will become true. What ever it is, it is like a balm for his soul.
Maybe the next time he has a new folder in his hand I will ask him about it...maybe even read it.

Hello friends. Happy Easter, I had. Great day it was so warm, we set a table up outside and ate in the sunshine. I have four grandchildren. They all came dressed up, and looking spectacular! They hunted Easter eggs and played and ran around. We grownups sat and watched while we sipped wine or coffee and laughed. I love hanging out with my family. We seem to have a really nice time together, and I think that is pretty rare.

Hello friends. It is amazing to me, how much we can affect each other.
It is near the first of the month and we have several customers who have a house charge...something not many places do anymore. They live on a fixed income and they get a check from SSDI or some such near the first of each month.
This morning, Jack, whom I wrote about in a previous post was in to pay his bill. He had asked me to add it up, as he was going to the bank to withdraw what he needed to pay his various debts. I told him he owed $163.41.
There were several people at the counter. A few stools down from Jack, was a nice looking man. He was very quiet, and polite. He just sort of ate his breakfast and didn't say much. The restaurant got kind of busy, and I was running around a bit.
At one point, the man from the counter approached me, and asked if the man with the guitar, (Jack), was allowed credit here. I explained the situation, and then he asked if I thought it would help Jack if the man payed his bill this month.
Now Jack has been struggling to meet his obligations lately, so I said "Yes", it would help him a great deal. The man pressed $180.00 into my hand smiling, and walked out the door.
When Jack came back from the bank, I told him it was his lucky day, he had won the lottery. He laughed and said he didn't believe me. I told him about the man paying his whole bill and you should have seen his face.
You wouldn't think a little breakfast/lunch place was a place for miracles, but it is. It was for Jack today. And it was for anyone who experienced the kindness and generosity of a total stranger. The joy on Jack's face was contagious. It felt a little like we all won the lottery.

Well hello again.
There is a strange tidbit of human nature I would like to talk about. Why is it...when I or any of my coworkers are working at the counter....stacking coffee....slicing lemon...or just placing our snacks or drinks at a certain area, without fail, a customer will come in and sit exactly where we have set up. Every other seat could be empty, and they choose where you are working or eating??? I just don't get it.
Is it so you will be sure to notice them and there fore service them? Is it because it looks more homey there and so they are drawn like moths to a flame? I am sure, if I were to walk into a restaurant, and see an empty counter, save one small section, I would choose a nice clean empty seat in which to have my meal.
The same thing goes for dirty tables. Why would you sit down at a dirty booth when every other booth in the place is clean??? People are so strange sometimes. Any feed back or enlightenment, any of you could share on this would be greatly appreciated!!

Hello friends. Today was "teen" day at the Sunnyside. Well at least it felt that way. We had a group of 15 kids from the charter school down the street. Then we had a 5 more groups of teenager come in throughout the day.
You know, you would think, the way adults are always complaining about "young people" today, that Teenagers would be rude, no-tipping, high maintenance customers. But the funny thing is, 90% of the kids that come in, are polite and respectful and usually tip....sometimes better than their adult counterparts.
I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy my job, {most of the time}. People are always surprising me. I mean there is the occasional person who loves to be miserable, and loves to drag as many people down to his level as possible. But for the most part, people respond to kindness and a friendly smile.
It is amazing what a complete stranger will tell you. Sometimes they are just as surprised as I am. Many times People will remark how they have not told anyone "that". Or that this was the first time they have spoken out loud about "something". When they walk in and sit down at the counter, or booth or whatever, they are not just looking for a burger, they just don't realize it.
They ask for advice, or reassurance. They complain about their family or friends. It's like the cliche` of a bartender, listening to his customer's problems...(maybe we are more like "Cheers" without the beer than I thought).
Whatever it is, I love it... It's a funny place.

Hello out there! I thought I might introduce you to one of the characters I see on a daily basis. We will call him Jack.
Jack looks like a large derelict garden gnome. He has a round belly, and a long grey beard. He often sports a hat or two and wears a pipe on a piece of leather around his neck. He can usually be found carrying two large guitar cases with him where ever he goes. He does this because he is afraid someone will break into his room and steal them...he can be a bit paranoid.
Jack loves to talk to me. He thinks I have the secrets of the universe or something. I don't. He tells me he met Jesus in a laundry mat once. He also met Jimmy Hendricks on a bridge somewhere after he had been dead for quite some time. He often has long conversations with God Himself.
He believes he invented the cabinet responsible for the Bose sound system. He is trying to sue them for millions.
Jack has talked at great length about playing his music, but in the five years I have known him, I never saw or heard him play and I often wondered if it was another fantasy or delusion.
Two days ago out of the blue he asked if I would like to hear him play.
"Yes! Please!" I responded.
He unzipped his case and lovingly withdrew a worn folk guitar. "I will play "Misty" for you.. it is my best song," he said.
He put the strap...much too short if you ask me....around his neck and looked remarkably comfortable. He began to finger the strings, and the softest of melodies whispered it's way to my ears. He sang along, very quietly. He was transformed. He was beautiful. I felt like he was the only person in the restaurant.He was angelic. At that moment in time, he was not Jack...who comes in 10 times a day, and tells you to squeeze his lemon every time he orders iced tea. He was perfect...beautiful, and for just the briefest of moments, I fell in love.

Hello again friends. I have just returned from the doctors. My son had an appointment. I remeber once I was 15 minutes late for an appointment and they refused to see us. Yet today, although the appointment was for 4:15 we were not seen until 5:00. Fortyfive minutes we waited. Unfair!! My time is valuable too.
The doctor is nice, and was appologetic. He too is a yapper, perhaps that explains the 45 minute wait. He talked about his freshman year in high school...my son is a freshman. He showed me how his laptop worked, and how many printer selections he had to choose from. I could not help but respond, encourage, coverse. Much to the chagrin and frustration of my 15 year old son.
I have to wonder, if he too will be possessed by this love of communication, once he is in his midlife.