It's the little things that make my day. It was a cold day today. The first real cold day we've had. It was like 30 degrees. I am outside for longer periods than I would like to be at least twice a day. I catch the bus to work, and take it home. Anyone who has ever taken the bus in Chicago knows that they are supposed to run by every 8-10 minutes, but rarely do. In most cases, I am waiting 15-20 minutes for the bus. Normally this is not that big of a deal, but when it's cold, and windy there's a difference. And my bus stops don't have the nice little heat lamps like those spoiled brats that ride the train. Nope, all I have is a small roof over my head with three sides that have huge gaps in between. Those really don't even matter though, because if I'm not standing right out on the curb the bus will surely drive right past without thinking twice and I'll be stuck waiting another 20 minutes.There is a three block walk to work in the morning and another to the Pulaski stop. So figuring in this time also adds a good ten minutes to my time outside.
It has also been very cold at work lately. I have worn 2 and 3 layers at work the past two days and I am still cold. As a matter of fact, I am cold right now.
So for most of the latter part of my day, I have been wishing that I were holding a warm hot chocolate in my hands. How much more bearable would my walks and waits be if I had a steaming cup of hot chocolate in my hands. I am positive my entire body would be at least five degrees warmer with just this hot morsel to hold onto. And when does chocolate not sound good? It's always a sure way to loose the day's blues.
I never got my cup of hot chocolate. I was done with all my routines and activities. I was sitting on my couch in layers with a blanket over me, debating bed. Then this craving sets in, once again. To have a craving of this magnitude so many time throughout the day and do nothing to satisfy it would be a travesty. Surely my night would be filled with bad dreams, and I would of course awake in the morning on the wrong side of the bed all because this one desire was not satisfied.
So like I often have, I rely on the all wonder full White Hen Pantry, less than a block away from my place. Many furious cravings are put to rest by the little miracle on the corner. Surprisingly, the walk there was the least cold venture of the day. It may have been because I was wearing socks to my knees, thermal leggings, sweat pants, a long tank top, a turtle neck, and the warmest fleece pullover I own. Or maybe it was because I knew what lay ahead of me. A steamy, sweet treat I had been waiting for all day.
When I got there, I wasn't surprised to see a normal weeknight crew of three. I don't know their names, but I know their faces well, and they also know mine. These kind of acquaintances are what defines the meaning of a neighborhood. Faces you see not necessarily every day, but often enough to know how things are going. I make my way around the counter to where the serve yourself drinks are. (right in front of the ice cream freezer which is another popular craving in my life that is so often satisfied by this fine establishment) And then to my horror I see the hot cocoa machine exposed, laid wide open as if ther is some sort of surgical procedure taking place. Awesome. I almost can't believe it but then I remember that this is my life, and this shit happens a lot- so it probably is happening. I look frantically to the lady behind the counter as I am letting out an "oh no". She says "awwww, you wanted hot chocolate? I am just cleaning the machine!"
At this point I have pretty much already accepted that I am not getting hot chocolate. I start walking through the aisles, hoping for a swiss miss packet to jump out at me. Then I see the coffee, and powdered NesQuick which is close, but not the same. As I am walking back up the aisle I see the lady and she has recognized my face, and remembered so many time the unimpotant, but friendly conversations we have shared in the past five months or so. And suddenly, all of those conversations become important. She says "here, I'll close it up just for you" "I say no no no, really you don't have to do that. . ." Too late. She is already doing it. And she says, "I've been trying to clean it all day, but everyone wants it because it's so cold!". And I reach for a cup, and start to place it under the nozzle and she stops me and says 'oh no no, here you better double cup it." And she hands me a second. "We are all out of java jackets, and it will be too warm with just one." So I take it, fill my cup and thank her.
As I am so hapily walking upto the counter, I realize that I only have brought a small amount of change, and I don't know if it will be enough. Once again, my satisfaction is in jeprody. What if I don't have enough change? As I the man in front of me is gathering his purchase to leave, two more of my freindly White Hen neighbors look up to say hello. I am reaching into my pocket and we are all exchanging our normal hello's and how are you's when the man says to the girl in front of mr 'don't worry about it". And she says, "yeah it's okay". And I say "noo, are you sure?" the girl says"it's just a hot chocolate". And a war smile lights up my face and I say "thaaanks guys!" The man says, "Have a good night." I say "you too" and walk out the door with a very warm feeling. Not one I was neccessarily craving, but one I enjoyed. I can honestly say, I don't know if it was the hot chocolate that made my day ;-)
