One of my first addictions was caffeine and is the only one I have retained. As a very young teen, the Last Exit to Brooklyn known as "The Exit" to everybody proved to be my training ground in the world of espresso. This funky throw back from 60s provided a hang out for a amazingly eclectic clientele. I was fortunate enough to get too experience The Exit in both my early teens and my twenties. But this wonderful piece of Seattle history is a different story then I want to tell right now.

Local coffee shops have been a destination for entertainment and socializing. Starbucks and its imitators has always been too mainstream and commercial for my taste. I very much prefer the look and feel of the independently owned coffeehouses. While I have been to many of them over the past twenty-three years, two special ones hold a cupful of warm thoughts. Two of my favorite coffee shops contain rich atmosphere, diverse patrons and a variety of entertainment.
Both of my favored establishments cultivate a certain ambiance. Only the second coffee shop I ever patronized was Tony’s Italian Cafe in Cleveland Ohio; Tony’s Italian Cafe was a mix of old world charm and late seventies punk culture. I felt comfortable from the moment I walked in to the place and gazed at the wallpaper imported from Italy upon which hung the works of local artist. The tables filled the small cafe were made of rod iron as were the chairs. Pastel over stuffed pillows and chair backs made the seats comfortable. Besides the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the smells of hearty Mediterranean cuisine permeated the air. My current den of caffeine delight is right here in Duluth and called Beaner’s Central. The differences between Tony’s and the layout of Beaner’s are obvious; Beaner’s is all modern and very lively. The music plays continually as Cd's provide subtle background during the day and musicians perform from the stage at night. There is a warm comfortable feeling created by the light purple walls and soft lighting. In the front, a mixture of overstuffed couches and comfortable booths invite groups to visit and hang out. In the center of the coffee house, small tables accommodate the business people and couples. The smell of fresh baked pastries and cookies over the lush smell of roasted coffee beans fill the air.
I really like to watch and listen to a diverse group of people. Tony’s Cafe had an interesting mix of clientele, which included people from the neighborhood, younger people who were involved in the local punk culture and a handful of fledgling artist and musicians. I spent many an afternoon sipping a quad cappuccino and listening to the musical Italian accents of the retired men who lived in that neighborhood. Their hand gestures seemed to be as important as their words when they were making a point or telling a story. One interesting senior citizen sat every afternoon with a newspaper and a demitasse cup of black espresso in front of him. After reading a section of the paper, he would down the pungent coffee then motion for a refill. He then continued on to the next section of the paper, his routine never seemed to alter or did I ever tire of witnessing it. Beaner’s customers are a mix of business people, college students, musicians and artist, tourist and of course, espresso fanatics like me. The first time I visited Beaner’s was several years ago, while on a holiday excursion with my late wife. We ended up meeting and becoming good friends with a musician .Our second visit was a on a trip to hear our new friend and her group perform at the coffee shop.
Often I go to a coffee shop to be stimulated by entertainment as well as caffeine. Beaner’s is a haven for local talented musicians who meet to network and share artistic insights. Performers also gather to catch the shows of musicians like themselves, who come from all over the United States. The owner of Beaner’s plays with two different local bands and has furnished the coffee house with a first rate sound system as well as several experienced sound technicians to run the sound board for shows. The stage is professional with a great lighting scheme. Visual art is also incorporated, starting with a colorful and large mural directly behind the stage. Every month a different regional artist displays their work on the walls and sculpture or pottery artists often have offerings placed on small tables around the cafe. Whereas Tony’s stage was really just a corner where they had cleared a few tables away from, it prompted many to perform. The art that graced the walls was always changing as new works were exchanged and occasionally sold .Thinking back to those days I think the real entertainment was watching the interaction of the Italian culture with the rising Punk culture. While there were many clashes I think each group respected the others desire to as the Sinatra song states “Do my way”.
The two coffee shops could be viewed by some as different as night and day; I see many similarities. This is actually based upon the human experience, as what I think I enjoy are the many memories of events, gatherings and personal discoveries. In the end, cherished the most; are the memories of individuals who were friends, confidants and lovers. They come to mind with every whoosh of steam from an espresso machine, many who have vanished just like the steam. Coffee shops are commonplace these days but the establishments that last have the quality to create memorable events.

She came home after her first date with this new lady in her life and she was giddy.
I sat and listened to her tell me about the whole evening in detail and everything about her new girlfriend. She was planning on taking my son to the aquarium the next day and had suggested her new flame go with them. This did not bother me in the least as I knew Ann had a great deal of tact when the situation required it.
The next day talking with my son it was quite clear Ann. was not the only one quite taken with this new lady, he sang her praises all through dinner.
Some might think at this point I was a tad jealous but in truth I was not -I was working long hours with a renewed enjoyment, as I was now sober I mended a lot of relationships and my creativeness was a new high. We also had other people staying with us and a lot of people stopping by for a meal or chat. I was renewing and making amends with my son and developing my own spiritual understanding my life was full.
So it went through most of the summer when Ann. was not with her girlfriend -we still talked went to meetings and she still liked to keep a good sexual tension banked between us.
One night on the rare occasion my son was visiting his mother and I was watching a movie and in walked Ann. with the girl I had heard about all these weeks.
They sat down on the couch and Ann. introduced me to Cindy,
She was cute with a devilish smile and a really crisp short hair style.
In fact everything about her said style from the shade of her red hair to her limited but tasteful jewelry We all exchanged some small talk and Cindy and I found we had several mutual friends in common. After a while I could tell I was getting the look from Ann.(the I want to be with my friend alone kind of look)so I said my goodnights. As I was walking out I could not help but notice that there seemed to be a bit of tension between Ann and Cindy that was not of a sexual variety few days later Ann shared w/ me that is was Cindy’s Sobriety anniversary and she wanted to take her somewhere special for dinner then to a place in federal way which rented hot tubs by the hour .I suggested she bring her by the restaurant and even thought it was my night off I would come in a supervise their meal to make sure the chefs made it spectacular.
She thought this was a great idea .I did even one better and had the dinning room manager pick up some flowers and balloons for their booth .I went into the kitchen and added some special touches to their meal then slipped out as my son and I had a movie to go too The next day Ann was really very pleased with all the attention i had given the two. And also mentioned again how Cindy and Joshua got along so well. She also shared how Cindy seemed a trifle cool to her as of late. It was later it dawned on me that the reason for this was Ann was head over heels lets pack up the U-Haul in love and Cindy seemed more interested in the nice pleasant fling mode.
To be continued

Washington State 1991
I was enjoying for the first time the reality of being a single parent with a sense of responsibility. Besides being clean and sober I was not drifting with my child from one mercenary relationship to another.
We lived in the house I had been brought to the night of my 12 step meeting.
It was a large house with my friend bob owning it. Bob had a year on me in his sobriety and I paid rent helped with the bills and of course did a lot cooking.
My Son was finishing up the first grade and would soon be reveling in summer vacation. I looked at some of the day care that was being offered in the area and knew I would have to make a choice soon. One day Gwen the friend who had brought me in to my new way of life brought a friend of hers to the house. She was a striking women very punk looking in her blond crew cut and leather jacket. I knew who she was through conversations I had had with Gwen. She was Ann a very educated lady who at one point in her life had been on the mayors staff in a large city. She had 14 years sober having been a street kid in L.A. She was beaten into surrender at an early age by those streets. She had just come back from six months in Texas where she attempted to reconcile with her family of origin.
She was looking for a place to stay. She had moved back to Tacoma and moved in with a male friend. Apparently he was sure she wanted more of him then to just share an apartment She did not..... He was in fact very far off the mark.
Ann wanted to go back to school in the fall and finish up a degree.
After a lot of hinting by G I talked with Ann and hired her as my son’s nanny.
She would watch him while I was at work for room and board a weekly stipend and the use of a car. My son loved her, she had an interesting way with children she could communicate with them in a way which held them in awe of her. She that summer took my son on a whirl wind tour of art galleries museums street exhibits and events
At night Ann and I would often go to meetings together and got to be good friends, people started to assume we were a couple. At that time the last thing I really needed was a relationship of any sort, as I was trying to work this new way of life to the best of my ability. We also had many conversations on the program and a spiritual way of living. We had just as many conversations on out dated paradigms on gender.
Ann who I first thought was lesbian soon proved to me she was more bisexual with a lesbian leaning. By that I mean her idea love relationship was with another female but recreational sex was Accord to her whim.
When it became apparent to her I was not going to make a pass at her (for reasons I stated before) She let her guard down a lot and really started to share with me her life and ambitions, dreams desires. She also I think viewed it as a bit of a personal challenge to seduce me. She soon started to make it a habit to prance around me late at night in the nude or in sexy underwear. She also had nights she had trouble sleeping and would have me gently rub the soles of her feet (I know I have a minor foot fetish to this day)
As I knew would happen eventual Ann came home one night and said she had met a lady and developed a huge crush on her. While she had not asked her out or was even entirely sure the woman was lesbian/bisexual she was obviously smitten by this new person. It also became clear to me that this intelligent cool semi punk chic lady was a hopeless romantic at heart. I really had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing as it was such a surprise.
To be continued

Six words that that I think characterize U.S. culture.
A. Independent B. Militaristic, C. Commercialized, D. Mobile, E. Outspoken. F. Pioneering.
A. Americans are independent in lifestyle and in principle as is obvious simply by viewing the number of personal items on the market place today such as personal music devices. On the negative side America has no built in sense of community and family is used in a very limited meaning. This independence also leads to ignoring community environmental responsibilities. On the positive aspect Americas independent thinking has been responsible for many amazing advances and inventions that have benefited the world. Another positive has been that independent thinkers have not listened to those who warned against risk stating” No one has ever done that.
B. Americans are a militaristic people who fought from the beginning for their independence with military solutions. America has never hesitated to take what it feels it needs or is entitled too by use of military force. The USA was created by invasive force and genocide.
C. Commercialization explains America with more detail then capitalism only as many countries engage in capitalism. American commercialism however not only promotes a product or service but has used campaigns to alter people’s perceptions of themselves and others. Commercialization created the “keep up with the Jones’s” mentality, and dictated how we should look, feel, and smell. The concept not only sold popular culture but created popular culture as well.
D. America is mobile and when examining the geography of America one could say it came about honestly. Americas desire to spread and inhabit has lead to expedient technological advances. The mass production of the automobile and the rapid development of flight display this.
E. Americans express opinions as this was an important founding principle. Individuals in America not only value this right provided by the Constitution but many have felt it is a duty. While unfortunately far too many, do not question popular opinion, a few have advanced the craft finding new ways to meet an open minded audience. For creative individuals the internet has been an explosive force with blogs, video blogs, and pod cast as examples.
F. America was founded and moved forward with a pioneer spirit, individuals who had desire for first freedom then land. This is the America that was built by both immigrant dreams and tragically by exploitation. However, the concept in its idea form still thrives in new areas both geographic and intellectual.
Most of the characteristics I have identified have deep structure in America; however they in some forms represent surface structure. Characteristics go to the depth a people allow them too. In many ways these characteristics have historically worked together to further America. However to say that they are all noble would be to say the ends justify the means, which I do not believe.
If militaristic attitudes and commercialization were to be stifled it would have a positive effect on the other four characteristics. Commercialization while generating commerce also has a large influence on the population’s attitudes, as mentioned before commercialization is intent on creating markets by creating artificial needs. If focus were shifted toward the positive aspects of independence then commercialization would wane. Militaristic attitudes will most likely remain until there is a change of consciousness in America. No country can project what its population does not hold in its consciousness.