The One Where I Try to Be a "Regular" at the Sunshine Cafe

It started with my favorite radio people: Kerry, Bill and Gina (X96 Radio from Hell). They broadcasted one day from the Sunshine Cafe, and sang its praises. There was some mystical granola pancake. I had to go there.

I took my son to the Sunshine cafe about a week later. It was a little tiny place, but it just radiated happiness. It was bright and cheerful. The food was fantastic! I fell in love with meat-lovers hashbrowns. I didn't see the granola pancake on the menu. Maybe it was just something special they made for the radio people.

A few days later, I was headed home from work for lunch and instead found myself at the Sunshine. I was alone, so I sat at the counter. As I was contemplating the bacon burger, in walked a woman with gray curly hair. She sat down next to me and reached over the counter and helped herself to an iced tea. I figured she was going to get in trouble but a few minutes later, one of the cooks yelled, "Mabel you got a perm! Lookin' good!" Mabel was clearly a regular.

I watched in fascination as the whole staff made a fuss over Mabel's perm and asked where her husband was. I was insanely jealous of Mabel. Nobody asked me about my hair or my husband...nevermind that I don't currently have a husband, I do have hair, which they clearly did not care about!

As I left that day a quest began to form. I was going to be like Mabel. I was going to be a regular! At some point in the near future, I would walk in to the Sunshine and they would all say, "Kelly! You've got new shoes again!" I had found my "Cheers."

I took my kids there for breakfast again, hoping for some sign of recognition from the staff that I was becoming a regular. Nothing. But these things take time. Undaunted, I took coworkers there for lunch a few days later. That time, I am pretty sure one of staff gave me a look like, "You have been here before." It was only a matter of time now. I was well on the road to regulardom. I figured at my next visit, they would surely ask my name and pronounce, "You are one of our regulars!" It was coming, I could feel it!

Yesterday, I dragged my friend Brent to the Sunshine. I thought the staff was extra friendly to me and they didn't charge me for my diet coke. I was getting so close! As we were leaving, I noticed a woman with a giant granola pancake. I asked her, "Is that THE granola pancake?" She nodded smugly and said, "It's not on the menu, but the regulars know about it." Damn. Another Mabel.

I am not giving up. I will be a regular. I will order that granola pancake and they will be forced to acknowledge my regularness! (heh.) And you know what? Once I am a regular, I will probably end up being friends with Mabel, and then I can talk her out of that perm.