Open for Funny Business
It was noon when Mara and I set up our makeshift office and scrabble game station in the corner of the Café Del Sol. The last time we played we did so without a net, which meant that neither of us brought a dictionary. On this day, we not only had a dictionary but our notebooks, pens, books, and eventually our plates of food, were spread out in all directions. Mara’s daughter, Kayla, who sat at the table next to ours, was doing a homes-schooling assignment in a workbook. We kept an empty chair nearby for visitors, some of whom were scheduled to drop by.
Kathleen, a member of the same Writers’ Workshop that both Mara and I belong to, was the first one to sit down with us. She, too busy to play with us on this day, came to discuss our joint efforts in the selling of a recently deceased friend’s books and collectibles in order to fund a chapbook of his photography and poetry.
“Do you want to keep score or should I?” Mara asked me as she and Kathleen were making plans to open an account at the local bank.
“I don’t keep score or drive unless someone forces me too,” I answered while looking for a place to put my tea bag.
By the time Kathleen left, the lunch crowd had arrived, and Sally the owner, who was cheering our game on, had to go and take orders. There was a business meeting going on at a nearby table that I was trying not to eavesdrop on while at the same time trying to figure out what they were talking about. Mara’s dad, who works at the nearby Jacksonville Center, came in, pulled up the extra chair, and gave Mara some insurance advice, while Kayla, with a crayon in hand, had moved on to making a flyer for the Spoken Word Open Mic night that was to be held at the Café over the weekend. 
From the big picture window next to where we sat, we could see people on the street walking by and stopping to study the many bumper stickers on Mara’s car parked outside. Our friend Monkia came in and snapped a few pictures of us. Meanwhile, Mara was laughing because that’s what people do when your from the north and they’re from the south and you use the term “bulkie roll” when talking about your lunch (pronounced bukie). The reactions coming from the people reading Mara’s bumper stickers were really getting entertaining, and somehow I kept managing to knock down the knick knacks on the café window sill ledge onto our table.
It was 2:30 when the game wrapped up. Mara read some of her poetry to me while I was cleaning up. I went on to do some errands while she stayed behind. She had one more appointment scheduled that hadn’t shown up yet.
Post Notes: Some of Mara’s bumper stickers include: “Keep Your Laws of My Body,” “No, You Can’t Have My Rights, I’m Still Using Them,” and “Human Kind: Be Both.” Maybe Mara will come by and tell us what happened after I left. Both her and I, along with many others, will be reading at the Cafe’s Spoken Word Open Mic Night this Saturday at 7 p.m. My St. Patrick’s Day Post is below.
March 17th, 2006 9:24 am
This sounds like SO much fun!
March 17th, 2006 9:56 am
You always have so much fun!
I love the “Human Kind: Be Both” bumper sticker. Everyone needs one!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! (and “Hello from Michele!”)
March 17th, 2006 10:04 am
That sounds like a really fun afternoon! But I’m a terrible Scrabble player.
Michele sent me. Happy St. Pat’s!
March 17th, 2006 10:06 am
I always get beaten at Scrabble but I’m a good sport. I love Mara’s bumperstickers. You go, girl!
As answer to your question on my blog, I sell here at the local crafter’s market and on-line. We’re building a shop on the farm, hoping to open in May. Come visit!
March 17th, 2006 10:07 am
Hi there, popped by from Michele’s this afternoon.
March 17th, 2006 10:07 am
Thanks for the note on my blog! I think it’s pretty cool that you’re a writer, too … It just makes me feel a little foolish for having a long series of goofy posts up when you stopped by, rather than the high-quality essays and contemplations that I normally compose for my blog.
(Cough, cough, mumble, mumble…)
😀
March 17th, 2006 10:11 am
I would love to visit your Café del Sol! haven’t played scrabble in a long time. Have I told you we have 3 scrabble games? yes one in English, one in Spanish and one in German, there are different letters and they score differently too, depending on the language.We used to play a lot when my little boy was little. Time flies by! here via Michele’s this time
March 17th, 2006 10:27 am
Clever bumper stickers. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 17th, 2006 12:52 pm
It’s great how cafes afford us a chance to sustain communities of interest. They have been an integral part of life in this country since the days when Ben Franklin and his pals cooked-up America over Lattes in the coffee houses of Philadelphia. I wonder what their bumper stickers said~,:^)
March 17th, 2006 12:53 pm
Oh, and it’s Patrick Kavanagh by a nose. Happy St. Pat’s, Colleen!
March 17th, 2006 2:46 pm
I really like the “Human Kind: Be both” bumper sticker too. And speaking of that…My favorite bumper sticker that I purchased with you peeled off my car: “LOVE IS THE LAW”!! I am bummed….I got another, but it isn’t exactly what I wanted: “PEACE IS POSSIBLE” HAPPY ST. PATTY’s DAY!!
March 17th, 2006 3:05 pm
Ah. I like her bumper stickers. Good for her.
I wanted to wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! and I hope you don’t mind that I referenced you on my site today.
We are going to be in your neck of the woods tonight. If it works out- this time- we are supposed to be having dinner at Oddfella’s with some friends and taking in a little jazz.
March 17th, 2006 3:53 pm
So I’m surfin’. I find this picture that reminds me of my Colleen. Did you do this? (Scroll down. It’s second to last)
March 17th, 2006 8:23 pm
Such a lovely flavor of your day. So glad you choose to share them with us.
March 18th, 2006 2:30 am
It sounds like you have a great time at the Cafe, Colleen. It’s more than just a Scrabble Game, isn’t it? It’s like a little tea party and meeting place with lunch! Is the food good? I’m getting hungry just thinking about it….YUM!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Colleen…well, it’s over but…the thought is there, my dear.
March 18th, 2006 10:20 am
Don’t you just love small town life? I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
March 18th, 2006 3:14 pm
I so wish I could have been there. It looks like a magical place and time, populated by some magical people, too.
March 18th, 2006 10:30 pm
How was the reading. Where you well received? Sounds like a wonderful afternoon. I miss being able to meet up with friends during the day.Michele sent me but I knew the way.
March 18th, 2006 10:34 pm
I just got home from the reading. I always feel awful the day of the reading and releived when it’s over. I’m always glad I did it. It was well attended. I read some Irish stuff in the spirit of the bards, poetry, and troubadors…”My Grandmother’s Brouge” and poem about playing Scrabble. There were about dozen readers and it ran till 10.
March 18th, 2006 10:45 pm
Good for you. I bet it went over better than you think. I know the feeling of dread before hand and exhilaration afterwards. Good for you for performing! You go girl….you’re my hero!