Strangers and Colleagues, by Greg Bouljon, 2003

Tables, booths, and a long counter stand
with odd and interesting pictures and signs
As the smells of rich coffee, sandwiches and deserts blend with music not often heard on radios..

A Milky Way latte sits creamy and smooth on my table

Waiting for me to enjoy this sugar caffeine high

A housewife rushes in with a hurried order and small talk for the waitress.

A mailman is greeted and has his "usual".

"Theatre" people from Circa 21 and twenty something artists

sit casually enjoying the summer afternoon both inside and at the outside tables.

A young man in his AE cap and t-shirt which hangs by choice outside shorts that strategically extended
just below his knees wears his social uniform with pride
and orders the day's special latte after much deliberation over the artistic chalkboard menus.

Two young dancers enjoy each other's company

with constant smiles and touching.

An older "challenged" customer orders a cold drink
and the waitress helps him count his change to pay

as another young man with sculpted biceps and a long pony tail waits patiently to order.

In the middle of all the spiked and carefully combed hair, carefully selected clothes
and projections of self,
there are three writers
who sit bent over their pads capturing this moment.

The sun streaming from the front windows outlines these wonderful teachers
who scribble furiously to capture the fleeting images before them.

Three dedicated teachers who have given their personal time and money

to open themselves again to new ideas and people

to renew themselves and to better understand the young minds

who will look to them for learning in the fall.

In an atmosphere purposely designed for relaxation

They are driven to seek

to understand

to know

so they can give... again.

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