Ok, I’m back at awake. I admit it. I am a Cafe Mom. I sit in a cafe and watch folks come and go. Sometimes I meet pals here. Most times, I come to escape into my private thoughts as I procrastinate on something else I probably should be doing. Like laundry. Picking up poop in the backyard. Drycleaning. This time, I’m here because I have a couple of hours to spare before my daughter’s dance class.
Street photography, sneaky photography…I would take photos of all the different folks here but the strict and sometimes confusing (confounding?) privacy laws of modern Germany make me fear even sneaking a photo for my own use. So I will share what’s in front of me…my coffee (milk with hazelnut flavoring), bubbly water, a brand spanking new Moleskine notebook and my ever present iPhone. Plus the staff here have seen me here often enough that I’m sure they wonder what I’m reading and writing about. I’d hate for them to ban me from here! Their coffee and light food fare is really good.
Eavesdropping is an art…I’ve heard at least 3 languages spoken by fellow patrons: German (of course), English and Russian. It’s a bit surreal because I can’t really eavesdrop when I cannot understand the conversation. Not even a little bit. I can catch some words like “ja vol” or “nein”. I’m ok with my lack of language skills although I know some non-Germans/expats may have serious issues with communication. I’m not one of them.
People watching…is an art. I have learned how to observe while looking completely involved in what I’m doing. It’s kind of like making a professor believe you’re taking notes when you’re really trying to take a nap . So I sit here jotting furiously in my red notebook, occasionally tapping on my iPad screen, and watching folks come in, sit down, get their drinks and snacks, relax and then leave.
There have been folks of all ages stopping through…like the mom with her toddler. I’ve seen her here before. We shared a laugh over the table advert for speed dating. (After all, Dot and Anton are characters in a popular children’s book.)
Then there is the young man and his trio of gal pals. All 3 young women are attractive…perhaps they are discussing their class lecture? There are at least 3 sets of gal pals, cafe mums… Makes me miss my pal, Erin, who moved back to the US recently.
Since it is late afternoon, it is likely some of these folks are getting off work and are grabbing a coffee or tea on the way home. Or they are just checking their email. Regardless, it is a comfortable way to people watch. And take notes on Evernote and in my Moleskine about how I’m going to revamp this blog, again.
And now I need to run to B’s dance class… Tchuess!
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