Dinner with Dexter: Best Days, Bear Days

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Best Days, Bear Days

It's San Francisco. About 10 seconds, then back to the norm.

Recently a conversation brought me back in time-not to the best days in life for these days are those. Perhaps the best days of work when I could participate in the conversation of what work could be. Every year we would give away a whole lot of stuff ( public relations/marketing/expenses- however I could qualify it as); drink cards, beverages, packaged candies, mugs, and miscellaneous. No catch- just a fun thank you to our regular customers (or anyone wandering in that morning). Staff that wanted to would take turns passing out the ornately wrapped gifts (well, just in a paper bag or in an envelope) usually with young Dexter and the Holiday Bear. In the holiday season, we always raised the most donations of all Peet's stores- our charity was La Casa DeLas Madres. Benefactors many but notably, Dwayne and Mr. Hill.

   Later after running in front of cars and Muni buses where tough bus drivers or scowling high school passengers would often brighten up and suddenly begin the frantic parade wave, we would walk around the neighborhood and drop off gifts to our fellow merchants. I found that people either tried really hard to ignore the antics or would fully embrace it. It was always a lot of fun, even doing on a day off. It's not easy wearing that big thick suit! (Dexter would later wear it on Halloween- twice, which although a crazy choice for a costume-I was honored that he would).

   I am thankful that customer Michael followed around this one year and gifted me these photos-otherwise it would just be a memory. Sometimes people did strange things- once outside a mother (who I didn't know even out of costume) wanted me to hold her baby-she absolutely insisted. Someone else followed me around the neighborhood- I could always see her out the corner of my eye hole and later sent a love letter to the Bear (clarify: to the Bear, certainly not to me).

    To all my good friends on both sides of the counter at Peet's, I miss you all but in that space of time, I am appreciative of the community, camaraderie, and the experiences. And to the rare bad experience where I did receive a letter signed, "go to hell you little prick"- a nickname was born and embraced by my fellows: "LP" (made for a nice business card).