SANTA WENT TO STARBUCKS
Everyone needs a good Christmas story
for the holidays. We all long for a tale
that will warm the hearts and give us faith that there is hope in the New
Year. This is my Christmas story and I
hope it spreads the joy for you like it did for me
It all started on a recent Saturday
morning. My wife, Denise, and I had
decided to go to Starbucks for an early morning caffeine fix. It was a cold day in November with leaves
blowing in a frosty wind and everyone had the same idea. The line at Starbucks was long, filled with
Mercedes, BMW’s and the like. I pulled
my old Saturn up to the curb and Denise jumped out to go inside, no way was she
going to wait in that line.
While she was inside I turned the radio on to listen to the
latest news and to find out what the weather would be. That’s when I spotted him. He was a sharp dressed man sporting a leather
coat over black jeans. The jeans had an
appliqué on the back pocket. He sported
a $100 haircut and walked with a certain don’t *%ck with me attitude. Sorry ladies I didn’t notice his shoes. As he passed me and my old Saturn he shot me
a look that let me know that he considered his station in life to be several
rungs above mine. He walked briskly and carried a large Starbuck cup with a
beautiful Christmas design. This might
be profiling but this dude had Republican written all over him.
In one hand he was carrying an IPad
that I imagined he used to make enormous stock trades while in Starbucks. He arrived at his vehicle and started to
fumble for his keys. Why should such a
fine gentleman be denied a third hand?
Without the extra appendage he was forced to set his Starbuck’s cup on
the roof of his car. He used the remote
on his keys to spring the door and his IPad received a warning of e-mail or
other electronic alert. He glanced at
his device and slid behind the wheel. I
witnessed him behind the wheel but his Starbuck’s cup remained on the
roof. Now I know it was the holidays and
my Christian upbringing forced my mind to consider doing the right thing. But that’s when I saw it. “It” was that twisted horn logo of a foreign
car company on the center of his wheel hub.
That’s right, the little son of a %^&$ was drivin’ a Toyota.
During the next few seconds many
images sweep through my consciousness. I
saw my dad signing up for the Army the day after the Pearl Harbor attack. I remembered all of my brothers and sisters
who had been laid off or let go when the Japanese transplants were allowed into
our country. Finally I thought of
Tennessee Republican, Jim Corker who even today stands in the way of the UAW
organizing a Volkswagen plant in his state while carrying water for Toyota at
every turn. After these feelings had
subsided, I looked through my window at the man in his Toyota, smiled and
mouthed the words “Merry Christmas.”
Annoyed that a lesser individual would attempt human contact with such
an advanced creature he jerked the Toyota into gear.
The cup held its place momentarily
while he backed up from the parking spot but when he hit “drive”, and then the
accelerator, the cup tipped and fell back.
The hot liquid inside bulged the cup and the white plastic top came
unhinged. His double caramel latte
spread down his back window like a virus through a pre-school. As he pulled out of sight the white froth had
begun to collect in that space between his rear glass and the deck lid. I hope the Toyota folks engineered that seal
right and the kids on the line installed it properly or he will be cleaning
that caramel smell out of his trunk until next summer.
Denise returned moments later with
her usual non-fat Chi Latte and asked, “What are you smiling so big about.” I said, “I think Santa brought me a little
gift early this year.” We continued on
with our day and suddenly the holidays had new meaning.
Early Autumn
The sun is
setting slowly
Creeping
down the hall
Leaving
splashes of color
Between summer
and the fall
Only the
highest branches
Hold the
color of the time
Crispness of
the evening
Holds yet
another sign
Summer
fights destruction
Like a fighter
in late rounds
Holding off
a strong opponent
With roots
deep in the ground
But you
can’t refuse the seasons
Fall won’t
be denied
Colors
pouring from the nature
Spill on the
countryside
Autumn will
have its moment
Like the
worm before the swim
We all know
what follows autumn
But then
summer comes again
