It's funny how in high school there are these certain standards and groups that everyone fits into. The jocks, burnouts, band people, theatre kids, emos, and so on and so forth. Even if you don't or didn't agree with all the stereotypes, you still fitted into one, didn't you? Although in high school I mostly considered myself a floater, I can't say that I didn't want to be accepted into the more "popular" crowd. I like to think that I was well-liked by a lot of people, but then again I was disliked by a lot of them too. It's strange how things work out like that.
But once you graduate, and go out into the world without any of the people you became so accustom to and aware of, you begin to yearn for familiarity. I went to college with one other girl from my graduating class. We were friends. Never super-close friends, but I never disliked her, either. I would see her on campus sometimes, and it was like a breath of fresh air. It was someone who knew me, and someone I could relate with. Even if I didn't hang out with her a bunch throughout high school, it was still someone who I wasn't afraid of or was uncomfortable around. After all, she did know me. Maybe not well, but it was one less person I had to stick out my right hand to and say, "I'm Paige."
When I decided to come home, my dad always told me how "bored" I was going to be because none of my friends were around. I don't think it really occurred to him that I didn't have too many friends at college either. But, that's beside the point. I'm not bored, but I do miss having people my age around who I can connect with.
That's why I love it when Owen comes into Mojo's for his $1.74 coffee on his way to work.
Owen and I graduated together. We we're never very close of friends, but we were never enemies either. He was just another person who I walked to Pomp and Circumstance with, or who I would say hi to in the halls in school. I never expected to stay in touch with him after high school, not because I didn't want to, but because we were friends with different people; in different groups.
But it's so ironic how you leave high school, and those groups could mean absolutely nothing anymore. People become apart of new groups, some similar and some different. But now, me and Owen kind of share a group. We are both at home, and we both know how to relate to each other being in the workforce.
Which is why, I appreciate it more than anything when he comes in, buys his coffee, and always puts 5 dollars in my tip jar. He doesn't have to do that. Most people just throw the $.26 into the jar and are on their way. But Owen takes the time to pull his wallet out one more time, and put a Lincoln in my jar. For anyone whose been on my side of the counter, or has waited tables, knows what a great feeling it is to receive a tip like that.
So even if we didn't talk too much all through high school, we now have something in common, and have a mutual understanding of the significance of money, especially when you're young and trying to make it.
Owen, if you're reading this, for some reason, I truly appreciate and thank you for leaving me 5 dollars each time you come in while I'm working. It means a lot, and goes a long way not only in my savings but in my head as well. Because even on the worst of work days when I wish someone would cut me a break and throw me a bone, you throw me 5.
And Owen may not even realize, but each time he deposits some money into my bank, he deposits some into his karma bank as well. We should all take a lesson from this, myself included. So the next time you feel like performing a simple act of kindness, think of Owen, and how much he makes my day each time he does that. I can only hope that I have the chance to do the same for him some day. After all, each and every one of us could use some good karma stored in our savings, because when it's all said and done, that's all that really matters.
