"There's a coffee shop that sits on the brick side-walked street a few miles from my house. Mill avenue, as the street is named, is a beacon of desperate night life that hangs between the 20 something year old bar goers and the anonymous homeless that roam there. The smell of cooking oil and beer breaks through the sounds of street side jazz musicians, and the click clacking of high-heeled women who haven't found Mr. Right. During the day, as the bars offer lunch specials, the street belongs to the homeless and street performers, who pester tourist and men in suits with cellphones. At times, the homeless retreat into the cafe, counting coins in their hands at the register and sipping their coffees nervously between the students and the well-to-do. There's a mad woman who sits on the fake leather chair just opposite the exit. Always sitting in the same place, everyday. For hours she smiles at any children who enter, as their parents hush them to the register while they stare in curiosity. She utters sentence fragments and mumblings to anyone who passes her on their way out of the coffee shop. One or two actually stop to answer whatever they believe they misheard, some pretend to examine their phone or the photograph that hangs on the wall behind her, avoiding her gaze, but most just walk past, as if she said nothing at all. I wonder what she would say if madness hadn't gripped her mind, if she would compliment the baristas shoes, discuss the troubles in Syria with a friend, or nod knowingly at the strangers who eyes meet as they pass, but I have learned that dwelling in such reverie is dangerous. Night falls once again on the strip and the street belongs to the countless college students and bar owners. Jazz music and the muffled sounds of club beats rise above the bricks. Contradicting tones above a pool of uncertainty." - Journal Excerpt - Me

“There’s a coffee shop that sits on the brick side-walked street a few miles from my house. Mill avenue, as the street is named, is a beacon of desperate night life that hangs between the 20 something year old bar goers and the anonymous homeless that roam there. The smell of cooking oil and beer breaks through the sounds of street side jazz musicians, and the click clacking of high-heeled women who haven’t found Mr. Right. During the day, as the bars offer lunch specials, the street belongs to the homeless and street performers, who pester tourist and men in suits with cellphones. At times, the homeless retreat into the cafe, counting coins in their hands at the register and sipping their coffees nervously between the students and the well-to-do. There’s a mad woman who sits on the fake leather chair just opposite the exit. Always sitting in the same place, everyday. For hours she smiles at any children who enter, as their parents hush them to the register while they stare in curiosity. She utters sentence fragments and mumblings to anyone who passes her on their way out of the coffee shop. One or two actually stop to answer whatever they believe they misheard, some pretend to examine their phone or the photograph that hangs on the wall behind her, avoiding her gaze, but most just walk past, as if she said nothing at all. I wonder what she would say if madness hadn’t gripped her mind, if she would compliment the baristas shoes, discuss the troubles in Syria with a friend, or nod knowingly at the strangers who eyes meet as they pass, but I have learned that dwelling in such reverie is dangerous. Night falls once again on the strip and the street belongs to the countless college students and bar owners. Jazz music and the muffled sounds of club beats rise above the bricks. Contradicting tones above a pool of uncertainty.” - Journal Excerpt - Me Thursday Feb 2 @ 01:01pm with 4 notes 4 notes
tagged as: bars. cafe. clubs. coffee. coffee shop. excerpt. homeless. jazz. journal. literature. nightlife. reflections. writing. arizona. asu. tempe. mesa. phoenix. drinking.

jessicadevore liked this
contemplatorinshades liked this
contemplatorinshades reblogged this from myhandmadehymnal
myhandmadehymnal posted this