And I just had to post about how happy that makes me. My Starbucks store closed way back in 2020 (I think by late March they were closed). So I had to read my Sunday paper, work the puzzles, etc., at home and it just wasn't the same. Most Sundays I didn't bother to buy a paper...
Then they opened but no indoor seating and there was nowhere to sit outside either because it was late enough in the year the the Pullman Square powers that be had put away all the benches and shut down the fountain. And I sure wasn't going to go get a cup of tea and not have anywhere to drink it.
Finally, the PS powers that be got the benches back out probably in March but still no sitting inside at Starbucks. But I would go occasionally just to see how many barristas I still knew. It finally dwindled down to 3 that I knew plus a lot of new ones.
But now it's just 2 that I know but they've opened up inside and outside!!! So today, I got my newspaper, went down to SB, got my tea (iced because it was already 80 degrees). While I was in line a woman came in behind me and when I looked at her, I thought I recognized her but she was wearing a mask so I didn't say anything. When the barrista that knows me took my order she said my name and the woman behind me took down her mask and she was who I thought she was. I probably (way back 4 or more years ago) occasionally posted about the dad and little boy who would come to Starbucks on Sunday mornings and how the little boy would go outside searching for money around the fountain like my grandson used to do when he was little and would come for a visit. She had the kids with her but they were outside. I asked if he still collected money and she said they both do. He's nine years old now and even though I said to the mother "you don't have to bring them over to say 'hi'", she did anyway and he managed to get through that okay so that was nice.
Then I got started on my crossword and for the first time since I had been doing the crosswords at home, I got every square filled in!!
So, a good time was had by me except for my constantly running nose (365 days a year), which was exacerbated I think by the flowering tree I was sitting under. I felt like people were thinking "good grief! - why didn't she stay home?" I've never had an allergy that I know of, but then I've probably never sat below a flowering tree either...
And that's all there is to report. I'll be going to visit January and Maggie soon (I think in about 3 weeks) and am excited about that so life has certainly improved since March, 2020!
And for those of you who read to the bottom I will post 2 pictures Chris sent to the family this morning: