I was the first croucher at my Starbucks this morning. Determined to get up and at 'em instead of floating along in my usual fluidity was a great feeling. I got out of bed at 6:20 feeling fully rested, had a shower, some prayer, and hit the road. I was there so early that I got my favorite table, the first one by the window--it looks out on a small lake and comes with an outlet for my laptop--score. I sat and wrote for about 5 hours, moving the chains from page 94 to 109 of my novel, draft 2. I had to write a new scene, otherwise I might have cleared more than just the 15 pages.
It's always interesting to pick up the snippets of conversation around me, usually I can block it out as needed, but it serves as just the right amount of white noise and distraction needed. I might even map someone's face, posture, or mood for a scene I'm working on. Then there are the people who break the form, who project their voices across the small space, monopolizing conversations with anything from their past heroics to their frequent bowel movements (not really). The most intolerable racket is a person on a cellphone, I suppose because there is no natural give-and-take to be heard. I very nearly encountered a projector/monopolizer today, but she skated within the range of my block out--she was in ministry, juggling speaking opportunities and guest spots on Internet radio.
Generally I'm accompanied by fellow job seekers, struggling to get Web sites to work, while other people ask if I'm a writer, some want to say "keep at it, you'll be great," while others hand me their business cards. The latter are would-be writers who want me to get them work. I guess I could sell them a program for $275 but I don't process credit cards.
Mostly, my compatriots are Bible readers, lake gazers waiting for friends, people interviewing for a job, or couples getting a real estate demo. The other day, a woman diagnosed the poor choices of someone not in her circle of three and then they all prayed together. Her friends also enjoyed(?) an exegesis on Peter's dream of the unclean animals. Also this week I saw the return of a small group of men who do a Bible study, they are African-American, and I find it particularly interesting to listen to their ideas. The facilitator is a John McCain fan.
I noticed today that the day crouchers come in around 10, most of the traffic before then is purely pour and go.
People are great, aren't we? God should write a book. Oh, I guess He already did.
Is the cell phone annoying because it is - or because you can't eavesdrop on the WHOLE conversation? I've asked myself the same question many times...I hate when I feel like I'm missing something.
Posted by: Wendy Melchior | October 11, 2008 at 11:33 AM
It's the lack of a rhythm that's annoying... you hear nothing than a loud response... the sound of someone TALKING AT SOMEONE rather than a natural flow of sounds. Voices are always louder for phone talkers than face-to-face talkers.
Posted by: johnvano | October 12, 2008 at 02:19 PM