Its Saturday morning, I am slightly hung over from the previous night’s adventures with the staff and I have just opened the doors. Its 8:01am. In walks the Marine. He has a U.S. Marines hat proudly perched on his head, fingers blackened from decades of manual labor, a face tough and wrinkled from exposure to the sun, and he is standing at the counter waiting to be greeted. My stereo is blasting the Beatles.
“I didn’t think there were any hippies left.” he says to me. No smile or hint of a joke.
“Hhmmm, well I guess there are a few of us around.” I say. I am not really sure I would identify myself as a hippie, but maybe I am close to a modern day version. Version 2.0, the hippie who also drives an SUV, lives in Montecito and is a complete food snob.
“How are you this morning?” I ask.
“You know,” he goes on gruffly, ” I was in the first ever peace march.1967, DC”.
“Oh wow, really? That must have been something!” See there, I should know this by now, never judge a book by its cover…
“Well, I was in the Marines and watched as all of my friends were dying in Vietnam. A war that never should have happened!”
In my head I pause and ask myself if I should risk the question I want to ask? Do I have the energy to do this? Things are going interesting enough so far… “So,” I say, “What do you think of the current situation in Iraq?”
“Well, of course we had to go into Iraq! I mean, what about 9/11???” Here we go… “We had to get that evil guy outta there! We have to protect our children and families! We have to fight them over there so that they don’t come here!” Every Fox news talking point enters the conversation.
I just smile and nod. Here is the thing, this is my last year in my 30’s. I know who I am at this point in my life. I know what I can change about myself and what I cannot. I will probably not be changing my political affiliation any time, nor my religious view points, nor the color of my skin or my gender. It all makes up who I am. But one thing I can do is understand that everyone has something to offer and to learn from, whether I agree or disagree. This man, no matter how differently we might view things in the world today, has thoughts I find interesting and thought provoking. I do not want to be stuck surrounded by a bunch of droids that all think the same as me, that feel the same, that look the same. Think of how utterly and completely boring that would be? It is the diversity that keeps life interesting.
So the Marine continues to come into my store each morning for coffee and a muffin. And I appreciate that. I greet him warmly with a smile and am genuinely happy to see him. Yes, we have amazing coffee, but can he get an acceptable cup of coffee elsewhere that is not going to shove their peace and love view point down his throat? Of course. So he chooses, for whatever reason, to continue coming into my shop. And I am thankful.
peace.love.food.
SN