For as long as I can remember, I have always been an early riser. I remember in second grade I was so into cartoons that I would wake up early on a Saturday morning, so early that the station was till broadcasting its test pattern, just so I could be there as soon as the cartoons started. I remember in college, I’d set my alarm clock for 5:45am and almost every day I’d wake up _before_ the alarm went off. And even today, I tend to get up early even on the weekends. Most weekend morning’s I get up around 5:30 or 6:00 and work on radio station stuff or blog stuff and then get some of my household chores done.
But what I have discovered recently, is that just being “up” in the morning doesn’t necessarily mean that I am “awake” in the morning.
Case in point, a few weeks ago I was going through my usual weekend routine. One of the radio station chores I have is to select a new set of songs to play on the internet station and upload them. I select 150 songs using the Secret Calvin Algorithm to creat just the right mix of music. and then I have to upload them to the station servers. Problem is that the Time Warner connection I have at home is hamstrung with a slow upload rate and it can take as long as 2 1/2 hours to upload all the songs. However, I recently noticed that the internet speeds at my favorite coffee shop, the Open Eye, are significantly higher and what takes over 2 hours from home can take as little as 45 minutes from the Open Eye.
So one recent Saturday morning, I got the brilliant idea that I’d get all my chores done and select the weekly music set and then go up to the Open Eye to drink a cup of coffee and upload my songs. So I showed up right at 8am when they opened.
On this particular morning, a tall thin waifish woman was working the counter. I’d seen her a thousand times before. She’s got that alternative look to her. gothy thrift store clothes, wild hair in various esoteric colors, piercings, and that emo-look. I’d always thought of her as a fairly friendly sort but never really talked to her.
Anyway, I ordered my small black half-caff just like always which she gave me. I took it to the end of the coffee bar and proceeded to doctor it up with Splenda and cream.
As I was doing this, I was dimly aware of a voice asking me something. But it wasn’t until I heard it the second time that I thought to pick my head up and note that the barista chica had come down to the end of the bar with me and she asked me again, “So how are you?”
I struggled.
“Everything’s good. There’s plenty of Splenda and cream.”
Bless her heart. She gave me a third chance.
“No I mean, how are YOU?”
Ah! neurons finally started firing. I’d seen this before. What was it? I know I know this. Oh yeah! Social Interaction! I read about this someplace. I can handle it. I know I can!
I knew that the question required not only an affirmative response on my part but required a coresponding query in return regarding the other person. Must be personal, but not too personal. Hmmmmm.
It seemed that the one thing I could tell for sure that we had in common was that we were both up early in the morning and that there didn’t appear to be anyone else at The Open Eye this early. I seized on this.
“I’m doing good. Must be tough for you to get up so early on a slow Saturday morning.” Not exactly phrased as a question, but it did invite a response I think.
She gave me a sly smile and said “Oh, it will pick up soon enough. It just depends when, but it will pick up.”
Success! “Well, good luck!” I said and headed off to my table. Lame but polite at least.
It was at this point that I dawned on me that even though I’d been “up” since about 5:30, I might not have necessarily been “awake.” Funny thing, I wrote 4 CD revews that morning before going to the coffee shop!