Today I made a fantastic mess. In the midst of juggling my new job at a coffee shop, which entails so much more than the following: memorizing drink names (scooder-doodle-carma-what? non-fat, sugar-free, light on the syrup with two shots of toddy- not espresso, please, oh and a 20 ounce, not 16. put ice with red and white not black or green), learning new recipes (how many pumps of this; shots of that), understanding terms, remembering a new cash register system- every day my head is spinning in tune with the steaming milk- (listening for the air- like this, not like that and with this much or no foam at all)- oh, and would you like whip with that?
So....I was trying my darnedest to focus on what I was making- and mentally preparing for the next 3 cups that were lined up, ready to be made- all while attempting to carry on a conversation with a regular- (you've got to get to know those regulars).....set a full latte aside- (not, mind you, on the counter where it goes, because Mr. (very kind) Customer was leaning on my counter where I should have placed the finished beverage)- so the full latte was waiting for it's mint mocha partner to be delivered to the same woman, with 5 people lined up and another three through the door- my manager was (very briefly) grabbing something from the back room. I turned to reach for my next task and caught my elbow on the (very finished) latte- and then the floor caught the latte. And the front of the counters. And my shoes. And the giant mat that we stand on. Latte was everywhere, except in the customer's hand. I stopped dead in my tracks and looked to the floor trying to remember how many shots and what kind of milk were now all under my feet. I will say that I reacted very coolly- (for the moment). I will also say that my manager asked multiple times if I was ok. "Shake it off, no big deal..." and "are you sure you're alright? You can't leave if you don't feel ok about yourself. This stuff happens." I assured her I was fine. "Yeah, no big deal. I'm great..."....only to get into my car and lose it on the way home, between jobs. I was frustrated.
However, the events turned as I quickly changed out of coffee-stained clothes into others for an afternoon of babysitting for a new family. I watched three children under the age of 5 for six hours this afternoon- and had a great deal of fun. I learned about shark repellant, that I was wearing a bear-proof t-shirt today, that "Superheros don't take naps", and that if you crack a cheeze-it in half, "you really can see the cheese inside!"
Children have an uncanny way of bringing me back to reality- and I love that. I love the perspective; the things they do and do not worry about. I love nap times and the way they look when they're littered across the livingroom floor, snuggled up with their favorite blankets; the way their eyes are so softly closed and their breathing so gentle.
I expected to come home exhausted after today. I'm close to it- but so thankful for both of my jobs now. I know I can make coffee. I know today will make tomorrow look glorious. I'm learning, I'll continue to spill and make mistakes. But I'll also continue to love my "regulars" and learn from the kids what it looks like to love life and not "cry over spilled milk"... and, undoubtedly, I'll continue to live my life, a beautiful disaster, because there's beauty in every "teachable moment".
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