Coffee Break… Residents Relax at Barnes & Noble’s Starbucks

Spring was trying very hard to barge its way in on Tuesday, March 6. Residents Elsie F and Jane H piled into the van with Activities Assistant Sarah Hodges and myself. It was a splendidly bright day for a coffee break! We rolled into Barnes & Noble and made a quick beeline for the Starbucks set up in the northwest corner of the store.

I am a coffee purist, black worked for me. Jane ordered a root beer while Elsie added cream and sugar to her coffee. Sarah came back with some creamy concoction showered with whipped cream. I stuck to my beverage but the ladies needed more! Sarah, Jane and Elsie plunged into their oversized desserts as if they’d skipped lunch (they hadn’t of course). Elsie did save a corner of her brownie and invited me to try it. Delicious!

The Starbucks wasn’t bustling, yet it was busy enough to make people-watching interesting. Jane asked about a woman sitting behind us in workout apparel. “Looks like she’s doing work, with her computer and cell phone,” I answered. Jane countered by noting that she sure didn’t look dressed for business! “That’s part of the point of working from here,” I told her. We both laughed. The group spotted another resident’s daughter who was book browsing. Lakeview Charge Nurse Gloria Huussen was also walking around. No question, we were the most boisterous group there!

Sarah and Elsie grew restless and wanted to explore the bookstore. Jane and I didn’t take the bait. We were content to laugh, joke and provide running commentary on our observations. She is never afraid to express herself, which added to the fun. I actually bought a refill while Jane sipped on the root beer that I was constantly topping off.

When Sarah and Elsie re-appeared we decided to bring our Starbucks outing to a close. And off we went, back home to The Maplewood.

Gary Sacco
Director of Recreation