Monday nostalgia

To please and pamper an overnight visitor, I set out this morning in search of fresh bakery treats. Ever since Atkins-mania struck again, bakery people are extremely nice to you when you walk in and ask for four pastries. They bring out the whole staff to celebrate your wonderful and unfortunately unusual indulgence.

I reflected about how my favorite little brick strip mall (‘favorite’ by virtue of being the closest and having at least two stores that I periodically set foot in) is forever transforming itself. Where a kids’ book/toy store used to be is now a stitchers’ center (I have no idea what goes on behind those doors – do they sew? Knit? Darn socks?). Where Breadsmith once produced breads, there is a combination of Wild Grains and Victor’s Coffee. Victor’s Coffee once occupied another spot which is now a Taylor shop (yes, really). Only Brugger’s has clung to its corner location, refusing to change anything but the staff (which they seem to do on a weekly basis).

I waved to people driving up for their morning coffee, their low-carb bagels, their half a sweet roll and for a few minutes I felt that this wasn’t suburbia – this was a small village with stores where everyone greets each other each morning and checks up on the health of the missus. Perhaps I shouldn’t get carried away here, but it was such a warm moment – the stores, the bakery treats, the neighbors. So much better than starting the day with an angry anti-ACLU rave (see yesterday) or a bowl of healthy granola (see everyday).