At Panera in Corona, CA
2:37 am, 16th Dec 2008
I’ve been sitting here for at least 3 hours at Panera in Corona, CA, where they have thankfully changed the music from God-awful elevator music to Coltrane. Now, after having worked on my new blog like it’s my job, there is some self-righteous woman sitting diagonal from my sister and I, counseling a young lady who is crying.
Not only is this REALLY awkward for everyone here (who is working on his/her laptop and/or enjoying soup out of a bread bowl), but from what I gather, they are talking about the young woman’s domestic violence situation. Whaaat? Yes. In public.
I can hear some fragments over Coltrane: “…why didn’t you press charges?…when a person touches another person…physically…you have to respect yourself…this relationship needs to be built on trust….” Sniffles. And then there is some weird “Er!Er!Er!Er!” emergency alarm that is going off in the back, probably signaling that a panini is getting burnt or something. A few inches away from the women is a middle-aged man making calls on his Blackberry and eating chips nervously. Every few seconds, a worker calls out that someone’s order is up: “Sandra. Sandra?”
“…obligation to protect yourself…you choose…you want sympathy or you want respect?….”
More self-help mumbo jumbo peeping out over Coltrane. Some sniffles and a nose blow from the young lady. Matching tenor sax solo.
I’ve been sitting here for at least 3 hours at Panera in Corona, CA, where they have thankfully changed the music from God-awful elevator music to Coltrane. Now, after having worked on my new blog like it’s my job, there is some self-righteous woman sitting diagonal from my sister and I, counseling a young lady who is crying.
Not only is this REALLY awkward for everyone here (who is working on his/her laptop and/or enjoying soup out of a bread bowl), but from what I gather, they are talking about the young woman’s domestic violence situation. Whaaat? Yes. In public.
I can hear some fragments over Coltrane: “…why didn’t you press charges?…when a person touches another person…physically…you have to respect yourself…this relationship needs to be built on trust….” Sniffles. And then there is some weird “Er!Er!Er!Er!” emergency alarm that is going off in the back, probably signaling that a panini is getting burnt or something. A few inches away from the women is a middle-aged man making calls on his Blackberry and eating chips nervously. Every few seconds, a worker calls out that someone’s order is up: “Sandra. Sandra?”
“…obligation to protect yourself…you choose…you want sympathy or you want respect?….”
More self-help mumbo jumbo peeping out over Coltrane. Some sniffles and a nose blow from the young lady. Matching tenor sax solo.
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