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by Olga Zilberbourg

"Hey, you! How's it going? How's the coffee shop activity? Do you still go to the same place every day? I have a great story for you about what can happen to a person who drinks too much coffee.
The other day I went to this off-Broadway musical (Batboy, have you heard of it? If not, check it out, it's the best thing since apple pie!) and after the show I stopped by this coffee shop across the street. Anyways, so I'm sitting there, drinking my coffee and notice this guy, who sits tucked into the corner of the place with an electric guitar, a tape recorder, and a huge tub of cappuccino in front of him. This guy looks like he's 90 years old, he's got his white beard, white hair, huge fingernails and clothes from the 60ies. His guitar is plugged into the socket on the wall, and he has these huge, ancient headphones to listen to his own music.
Anyways, I'd probably forget all about that guy, if I didn't happen to be in the same off-Broadway neighborhood the next day, I forget why, probably to go to some audition. Anyway, so I saw this old guy in the same spot, in the same position, even the cup of coffee in front of him looked exactly the same! I mean, it was so freaky, I thought he was a statue or something. That happened about 3 months ago or so, but in the last few days I had to go back there for another audition, and every time I saw this guy there! Same place, same position. Weird, huh?
Well, there's a lesson for you somewhere there - you're wasting coffee!!! No, but seriously, anyways, you shouldn't get so used to the same place. Change is good! Change is healthy. At least, you could alternate between two or three different coffee shops and the library. I worry about you. J."

"Dear J., it is so sweet of you to write such a thoughtful letter to me. It is great to know that you're thinking about me even when you're so far away. I respect your advice so much that today I even tried going to a different coffee shop! It didn't work out so well, because there was no free Internet access there, so I couldn't procrastinate so comfortably, and, as you know, I can't work so well unless I procrastinate first.
Anyway, J, I think that no matter how much coffee I drink and whether or not I go to the same place every day will not really make a difference at the end. Please don't rule out chance as a significant factor in the path of our lives. Here's a story to illustrate my point.
The other day, I was going home from work when the rain started - probably the last this winter season. It had been spring for quite a while now, so didn't expect any rain that day: I didn't have my umbrella with me. I ran down Market Street to get to the subway as fast as I could, ending up bumping into somebody in the middle of the street. It was this old man, looking like an aged professor with his little top hat and a full old-fashioned 3-piece suit. When I ran into him, he dropped his load: a bunch of umbrellas he had been apparently selling to forgetful people like me. I helped him to pick the up from the mud: San Francisco is a relatively clean city, so they weren't badly spoilt. I bought one to make amends and went on my way, but only walked a few steps before looking back at the old man. He was still there, quietly standing on the corner of the street with his stock of jungle-colored accessories, barely even trying to attract anybody's attention. He was just standing there, forlorn.
I can't get that image out of my mind. What was this sweet little old man, who looked just like my high school math teacher, doing in the middle of Market Street in San Francisco selling umbrellas?
I do believe I made my point clear - no matter what choices we make in life, who is to guarantee that when we are 70, we will not end up standing in the middle of a random street in some random city selling something to somebody who might as well do without it?
So, please, stop making fun of me for my random coffee shop habit, and go back to your own coffee shop and talk to the guy with the electric guitar! What the hell is he doing sitting there all day long, anyway? I'd love to know! Me."