Our car was giving a break-pad warning light; now I know it’s probably a sensor, but I don’t screw with breaks, so I got an appointment to have ‘em checked this morning. While it’s there, I walked across the street to a Starbucks (with as many of them as there are, it’s a wonder there isn’t one in the back of the shop…)

Those who have been reading these pages for a while know how I feel about Starbucks…their motto should be Coffee for People Who Hate Coffee. I drink cappuccino, which is espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk…the correct recipe is one-third of each, but Starbucks cappuccino is closer to one-seventh coffee, a wet cafe latte. So whenever possible, I find a local alternative.

Which is where the chuckling comes in. Like I said, I decided to spend my wait at the Starbucks instead of the shop, since I brought a bunch of work along with me, and a weak coffee is better than none. As I was getting my second, the “barrista” (Starbucks is well-known for pretentiousness even though most of these kids couldn’t pull their way out of a wet paper bag) said to me, “I hope it’s ok, but let me know if it’s a little light.” (The correct term should have been “wet,” but never mind that now.)

I couldn’t help it…I started to laugh. I mean an embarassing belly-laugh, it struck me so funny. All I could choke out was, “Well, yeah, it’s Starbucks…it’s supposed to be light.” To which the poor child said, “But I don’t want you to be unhappy with your drink…I can add some milk to it.”

I almost dissolved into a chortling puddle the floor. As I type this, still sitting in the Starbucks listening to the three kids explaining the different coffee drinks to an unschooled patron, I’m still chuckling. And I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at a Starbucks cup again without laughing…