The People in My Neighborhood: Dr. House

There is a guy who works everyday at our neighborhood Starbucks. I know him because I go there sometimes I work on the shaded patio too. I also drive past the Starbucks at least 4 times a day to drop off Jay and pick him. I don't know what kind of work he does but he is from Michigan and then moved to Chicago. Now he has lived here for 15 some years. We chatted one day when he commented on my Birkenstocks. He said it is a wonder that it took Birkenstock so many years to make more fashionable shoes, like the ones I was wearing. He has an eleven year old and his family travels to Colorado for summer vacations. He only sits on the patio and sometimes has a dog that he brings too; a Bernese mountain dog like our Urbana neighbors, the Firmands, always had. He eats Starbucks oatmeal and smokes cigars.

I love the smell of cigars. I hope my Uncle Jeff is not offended that I associate the smell with him. I associate it with my Uncle Jeff and Taylor family beach vacations. He may have smoked a cigar everyday of every vacation we were on together or perhaps only once or twice, but it is an instant association and bring about good memories. There was also a security guard that worked at a bank in Bucktown in Chicago. Everyday I passed him at 7:45am and he would be smoking his cigar outside the bank. Smelling his cigar in the morning did the same thing. 

Anyhow, the guy who hangs at Starbucks looks a lot like Hugh Laurie and talks like Dr. House. 

In other news, I am going to see a movie and have dinner with my book club friends tomorrow. We are seeing Midnight in Paris, which I have only been wanting to see for months now, so that will be fun. 

I also took a knitting class yesterday at The Shabby Sheep. Lovely store. Lovely people. Lovely time. I am looking forward to going back and making some pretty things with all the gorgeous yarn they have. 

Comments

[Kathryn McGill]

I keep meaning to tell you that the guy at the bank is still there and that every time I see him I think of you! So Uncle Jeff has trickled down associations! Miss you!

[Colin Taylor]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Midnight In Paris. I really liked it.