Trudging this road of happy destiny once again I have gathered a burden of guilt as my absence at the Rush Rush café has grown. It’s not been without cause, however, since the last wind storm chose to take a portion of my roof with it. Possibly it liked my house and wanted to take a memento as it trekked East. Whatever the reason there I toiled discovering why there are so many advertisements on the roads for Roofers. You know the ones that say – Roofers Wanted – Little or No Experience Necessary! Oh yes in the midst of this operation there were several visits to the Dentist. Valid excuses – not really! Nevertheless it was a warm greeting that welcomed me upon my return.

It’s a cold evening here in AZ (51° at 10pm). The suffering denizens are shivering and the patio is empty while So and Do Right perform behind the counter. You can almost hear the refugees from the East wondering why they moved to the South West only to shiver! Hah! Wait until the summer and its 110° days get here. That’ll create some doubts! It’s a studious crowd and the laptops are buzzing as work is getting done between gossiping and flirt sessions.

“So” advised me that there is now a Blog Site for the Rush Rush Café and my presence would be welcomed. Immediately I jumped over to the Rush blog and submitted my review and cast my vote with the local rag for the best local independent coffee. While doing this I heard voices of memories talking to me saying things like “Vote early and often!” As long as you were winning you had to love Chicago politics. Consider this a similar call to those far and near to come to the aid of the Rush Rush and possibly get me a free cup of the old blonde and sweet. Then write a review and let’s get a dialogue going. Why not!

Curiously though when at the Rush blog I found some complaining about the joint. Now there have been times when I have felt that my presence hasn’t been fully appreciated at the Café. Times such as when I walk in on a fine morning and there is a line. Knowing this Hawney might see me in the back of the line and get my coffee ready. With my being a creature of habit this isn’t that hard to do but doesn’t he realize that it might cool off by the time I get there! Jeez, I mean I do have my standards! Speaking of standards however, I do believe that is where the genesis of the complaints lies. The corporate and chain culture has nearly obliterated the concept of private ownership and the personal touch. Thus when people meet up with a So and his staff they’re just plain stunned when the standards that have been set out are upheld. I’ve watched each of the staff struggle at different times with those who somehow can’t understand that you should buy a cup of coffee or something when coming to the Rush Rush to “hang out.” Or that spitting on the patio is just a bit rude! I mean I’m all for personal freedom of expression etc but should it be at your expense?

Speaking of standards how about the ongoing Tiger Woods saga? I still wonder why there is such tribute paid for his being a man or person of good word and yet when it comes to honoring a relationship with a spouse and family that is all tossed out the window. Is that sort of stance only for public consumption and then forgotten when it gets too real. It’s a classic example of failing to uphold the Social Contract in my opinion and without that doesn’t the thread of our social fabric start to unravel? And in this mix the female talking heads found no fault with the gals who joined in with old Tiger. What happened to the bond of Sisterhood? Aren’t his wife and children a part of the Social Contract? Does the adage that claims that being a modern woman means never having to say your sorry hold true? Are our heroes a reflection of our values and do we really believe that whatever goes is okay as long as we don’t get caught? Tevye of Fiddler on the Roof called out for Tradition and here I am calling out for Standards and the Social Contract! This coffee addled mind says that we do need standards to live up to and then the whole of society can be elevated. I say it’s both a sad reflection of our pop culture and a sign that I’ve been watching too much of the tube.

Thank gawd for the coffee shops of the world and standards wherever they might be found. Where else but in such places as these, is it possible to hear the silence of the night amidst the flow of conversations around you. Each person brings their personal history waiting to be let out and shared. Floating in and out of this is the bantering of So and Do Right amongst themselves and conversations. Life glows when it’s shared and the Rush Rush is ablaze this quiet evening. And then for fun take a moment and realize that this very scene is being enacted throughout the world amongst people of good will no matter what the time of day or night. Should you ever be in the neighborhood stop in and ask So about this topic. I promise he’ll look at you with his dark eyes and with a smile on his face and then he’ll shake his head and say you’ve been talking with me too much!!

Cheers!

Gump’s Brother

It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not to deserve them.

Mark Twain

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at 1:59 pm and is filed under Information, Januarry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.