Dear So and So

[Crankin]

Marni, did you work in west Acton?

[marni]

Crankin,

I was manager of Philips Coffee shop on the main road (rt.111/Massachusetts Avenue) through West Acton to Boxborough, on Spruce Street sort of kitty corner from the West Acton Post Office. I worked there from 1997-2004.

Why? do I perhaps actually know you? if you ever were in Philips, tell me what your standard order was and I will probably even be able to put a face to the order. I never knew peoples names but recognized them by their daily orders.

[Crankin]

Marni, I just edited this, as I re-read your post and saw you worked there 97-2004. You must know my son!!!! Phillips has gone through 2- 3 owners since you worked there, and my oldest son worked there for 3 years (last 2 years of HS and when he came home on break in his first year of college), from maybe 1999-2002. His name is Josh. I still go there all of the time, including a few times on my rides with Hirakukibou. That's where I walked in to get a sandwich in my cycling gear and a bunch of women I know said really loudly,"Oh my God, you rode all the way here from Concord?" (all 7 miles), when I was actually finishing a 50 mile ride.
My son became quite a barista working there, and also came home with all the A-B gossip on a regular basis. He said the "middle aged women" loved to spill their guts to him. He continued working as a barista in Amherst through college.
Anyway, the place was bought by a young woman, the same age as above son, 3 years ago, and it is quite upscale now and very successful. She was written up in the NY Times magazine as an example of a successful business that opened in the recession. But, the food and coffee has not changed that much.
We must have some mutual acquaintances.

Small mocha latte, skim milk

[marni]

I do remember Josh! although he usually was coming in as I was going out. I got the AB gossip from my children and was occasionally able to add a bit to the chit chat of the afternoon shift that came in after school to close.

There were several small mocha lattes- Were you by chance the skinny fit brunette with reddish tints, sporty short hair?

My youngest daughter Marie left AB her sophomore year 2002- I will confess to having messed up the years. I actually worked there 1996 -2001 until it was sold for the first time and when we moved back to the Netherlands. My oldest son Richard, graduated AB 1996, and my second son Michael graduated AB 2000.

Unfortunately I was not a road biker, or even a rider when I lived in Acton. That was 9 years and 125 pounds ago. I have been road biking since we came back to the states and ended up in Texas in 2004.

I miss the area, and although I don't much miss the snow, I do miss the change of seasons, especially the change from summer to fall, and spring.

Something in there about a lesson on 7 degrees of separation or something I guess.

It was a lovely area, that store, and I am glad that it is still being used and used happily. It was originally an old mill- the base for the grind wheel axle was down in the basement next to the office and people were always tripping on it. Norm Abrahms carpenter shop (this old house) was in the next building which we used one tiny portion of for storage. That's the same building that used to have, and may still have the Acton School of ballet downstairs.

Good memories.

[lph]

There were several small mocha lattes- Were you by chance the skinny fit brunette with reddish tints, sporty short hair?

This is fascinating. Shoulda worn a carnation!

Marni, I'm impressed by your memory.

[Crankin]

Marni, I may have been that person. I cut my hair really short around 2000, I think. It's dark blonde/with highlights, but it is a little on the reddish side.
I used to go in to get a coffee on my way to work, sometimes, even though it was totally in the opposite direction (Hudson) of my job, or when I had to drop my kids at school early. Small world.
The ballet school is still there.

[Biciclista]

to whom it may concern:
what are valid reasons for pulling the plug?
Asking me to increase my commute from 8 miles a day on bike to 40 miles a day on I-5 might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

to self: get your butt in gear. Life is much too short.