Gentle Encounters

This morning Sarah and I visited the new location of Myrtle & Cypress, a wonderful coffee shop located inside The Omaha Conservatory Of Music. Last time I was there I was on the search for a specific coffee bean and I couldn’t find it on the shelf. Brandon, one of the co-owers and one of the baristas working that day, asked me if I was looking for something specific. I told him I was, and explained the beans with the specific sort of processing that I like. He said they were out, but then he proposed that he roast a fresh bag of them for me. I thought that was pretty incredible. I took him up on his offer.

I love a good independent coffee shop. Like independent bookstores, I’m always super impressed with the people who have the boldness and courage to open them. It’s a tough industry. But it’s because of people like this that I am always willing to drive past ten chain coffee shops to go enjoy a cup or two of coffee at a local independent one.

I noticed they had a great selection of gluten free cookies and pastries and bought a few for Sarah to try out. She enjoyed each one, but said that the GF shortbread cookie is the best she’s ever had. So today I returned, and Sarah came with me to try some coffee and get another cookie or two.

The coffee shop is in the conservatory of music, so there are kids sitting around waiting for lessons to start or finish. It’s a kid friendly place, which I really like. The whole place just feels inviting. And while Sarah and I sipped on our coffees, I overheard a conversation between a barista and a girl sitting at the bar. She had opened a pack of butter and was nibbling on it like a snack. The barista, who was taking inventory or stocking the counter, noticed and struck up a sweet and gentle conversation with her.

He asked her if she likes eating butter, and with a big smile she said yes. The man said that his daughter also likes butter and would eat it when she was her age. He said that his daughter was now older and was graduating from high school this year.

It was a short, but sweet conversation. The girl continued snacking on the butter until it was gone.

I don’t know how to fully describe vignettes like this that I encounter, but they are so full of gentleness and grace that it makes me well up to simply witness it. I live in such a critical and somewhat harsh environment that it’s like warm sunlight on a cool day, or a gentle breeze on a warm day to experience a simple interaction like that. I need these sorts of moments in my life.

I know people are oftentimes frustrating. Sometimes they are even cruel. But a lot of people are pretty great a lot of the time. And I catch glimpses of hope in the midst of a tense world when I see people interact this way with one another.

I like to capture photos of places where I feel hope, where I notice beauty, where I encounter kind people. I asked Brandon for a quick photo behind the coffee bar, and he gracefully obliged.

If you’re in Omaha, I recommend checking out this new location of Myrtle & Cypress. It has a good vibes and great coffee.