Subject: The “B” Note – Coffee in the Morning – 3/17/99
Good morning Folks,
Just got off the elevator. Had a cup of coffee in my hand. Large cup.
This morning it was just – us – black folks on the elevator I rode up on. One sister got off at the 3rd floor. Looking at my cup of steaming brew, she told me she was gonna go in the office and put a pot on.
She was trying to stop drinking offee, but she found that when she didn’t, she was in a bad mood. The third floor is law offices. The fifth and sixth floor too. Lots of sisters work in those offices.
We talked about coffee. How we both started off our mornings with a nice hot cup and we felt better. She told me to have a good day as she got off the elevator and I told her to have a good one too.
Some brothers came on as she walked away.
One older gentleman and a younger brother. They were both wearing dark blue work overhauls. They were both complaining about something.
There presence made me feel better some how. Kinda like listening to my grandfather (whose been dead since the seventies) just talking about something.
The older gentlemen turned to me and said Good morning.
I offered him back the same and told him how I was about to get off the elevator and go enjoy my coffee.
He told me to take my time and don’t let them folks get to me. He didn’t have to be specific. I understood and I told them both to have a good morning too.
I find that when I’m traveling on public transportation or just walking in the street or standing at the bus stop – Black folk have an easy way of sending support messages, although we might view them as just being polite.
It is a knowing. And on a day like today – when its nice outside – the informality of my people is my “pump-up” in the formality of the corporate world.
Yawl outta smell this brew. I’m feeling good. I can now go on and do my thang!
You folks have a good one too!
Bianca in the a.m.