Working at Munchers Bakery in Lawrence, Kansas, I see a lot of interesting people: travelers, regulars, families, friends, strange folk. When I get the chance I try to ask them two questions: "How was your morning?" and "What are you doing today?" Here were some of my favorite customers from the weekend of Feb. 17:
The Delivery Woman: She wore all grey, with the hood of her jacket cloaking her face. The woman had just finished her three-hour newspaper delivery route and she had been up since 2 a.m. She was getting donuts for herself and her family because at noon, she had a soccer game to go to.
The Plower: A snow-plow parked in front of the bakery and I watched its driver walk into the shop. It had snowed a little bit that night and the man had been plowing since midnight. This was his 23rd year of plowing roads and he hoped the next year would be his final year.
The Hungover: His eyes were dark and baggy, he told me that is had accidentally been a long night. “Margaritas make long nights,” he said.
The Partiers: As she picked up her cake, the older woman told me she planned to celebrate two birthdays and a going-away party later that day. Her granddaughter and son had birthdays near each other and they were moving to Liechtenstein in a few weeks. This time next year, she hoped to celebrate with them in Europe.
The Winners: The grandfather ordered sprinkle donuts for his grandchildren as a late Valentines Day gift. “Sprinkles are for winners,” he said with a wink.
The Scarf-Collector: My coworker complimented the man on his long gray scarf. “It’s from my ex-girlfriend’s sister,” he said. “I collect scarves.”
The Stubborn: As I handed the dad his order, I asked his 2-year-old daughter if she wanted to hold one of the drinks for her dad. “No,” she said.
The Puppetmaster: Just a young girl bouncing her fluffy pink puppet on the counter-top.
The Questioner: I asked the balding man my normal questions "How has your morning been so far?" and "What are you doing today?" He gave me short responses and then turned the questions back on me. “What are you doing today? What homework do you like the most? What homework do you dislike the most?”
The Grandfather: It was early and the man told me that he was going to the hospital to visit his daughter. Immediately, I was concerned. “Is she okay?” I asked. “Yeah, actually,” he said. “She just had a baby." He was about to meet his third grandbaby, a little boy named Lorenzo.
The Coloradoan: The tall, older gentleman was just traveling through. He’s from Colorado visiting his family and every time he’s in Lawrence he brings his family donuts.
The Granddaughter: Every other day the woman comes in to get donuts for her grandpa. “He’s the tiniest old man, but he has the worst sweet tooth,” she said. Her and her dad take care of the grandpa. “We’re all he has left,” she said.
The Dog-Walker: It was 30 degrees outside and the man was walking his pit bull mix after getting donuts. “Walking is good for all of us,” he said.
The Pokemon Master: She must have been in her 30s. Her phone was clutched in her hand, and on the screen was Pokemon Go. The woman had been playing it since the game came out. “I’m trying to catch four curveballs today,” she said.
The Studious: A good friend stopping by to get donuts before she studied at the Mercantile Co-op.
The Binge-Watchers: Her plans that day: binge watch Game of Thrones.
The Traveling Professor: He was a professor of brass in the School of Music and in 12 hours he would be in China to teach classes.
The Photographer: A lanky boy getting donuts before he ventured out into the cold to take senior pictures.
The Husker: She never went to the University of Nebraska, but she loved the Huskers. She never misses a game. Later that day she planned on watching the the women's basketball game.
The Mailman: He was on his delivery route, just stopping by to get his donuts.
Disclaimer: All quotes and experiences are recalled from memory so they may not be 100 percent
accurate. Many of these encounters are brief, representing just a fraction of each person's story.