Michael's Open Table.
His name was Michael Longfellow and he wore a yellow vest to be seen.
Over the past year and a half, almost every time I worked at this Starbucks, he was sitting at his table.
Sipping black coffee in a white mug. Wearing a reflective vest. Often unshaved, a man probably in his late 60s. Always sitting pleasantly with a smile on his face, as if he were visiting some long-time friend.
But nobody ever sat at his table.
Sensing some sort of developmental disability, I would always smile, but never asked him a question, as I would normally do.
My heart breaks for people eating alone or clearly alone. And yet, I hesitated with him. Perhaps fearing an awkward conversation, I chose to walk by several times on my way to the bathroom.
And then this day came:
My heart immediately dropped into my stomach.
His table filled with flowers, an uneaten cookie and a cold cup of black coffee in a white mug.
Several hand-written notes. One with frail writing - “You were a good person. I’m glad I knew you. With Love, Herb.”
I immediately asked an employee -
Two days ago, he was struck by a car and killed and left in a median for over 10 hours.
His name was Michael Longfellow.
He wore a yellow vest because he walked alongside busy streets from his home to Starbucks almost everyday.
But I think he also wore a yellow vest to be noticed.
Some people could see him. Others could not, or chose to not see him.
The driver who fled did not see him.
But customers like Herb saw him.
The employees of his store chose to see him as a human to be loved, not as a nuisance taking up a table for hours every day, potentially making other customers uncomfortable.
And now a table sits as a memorial.
The flowers and his mug of coffee are gone - and once again an ordinary open table at Starbucks near the bathroom, soon to have a small plaque honoring our friend Michael.
Perhaps this table will be an invitation to those who knew Michael, or those who read the plaque - to sit, reflect on the gift of being alive, sip black coffee, and invite someone to sit down and join them.
I wish I had.
Grateful for Herb, and Starbucks employees who choose to see the humans - especially the ones with yellow vests.
