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.

HI there.
My "X" says I am a yapper. You know one of those people who can talk with anyone. We went to the Rotary Home Show yesterday, and he said I must have been in my glory, walking around, chatting with venders etc.
I used to be shy. I am sure you already find that hard to believe, but it's true. I wore a perpetual cloak of invisiblity. I don't know what happened or when, but now, I cannot help myself. I love to talk with people.
I work in a little breakfast/lunch joint. We have a lot of regulars...I call it "Cheers without the beer". We also have many people from all over the world come in. Cape Cod is one of the vacation destinations of choice. So I can feed this need for conversation and interaction every day. Our restaraunt is next door to a day program for people involved with the Department of Mental Health. So the stream of people coming in is quite varied...a real cross section of life.
I guess that is what this blog will be about, different people and stories and experiences from there. It's called the Sunnyside....enough said.