The Coffee Shop Hair Talk

In Kodiak, there are 3 coffee shops that obtain most (if not all) of the espresso business. The first is found downtown by the docks. It is frequented mostly by fisherman (and during the summer, tourists). The second is found in mid-town. This particular shop is frequented by the Moms and their kids; it is similar to a mothers-day-out program, except for the fact that the mothers have to stay with their kids, but the mothers seem to come in hordes. The third shop is just out of town. Number three is more than just a coffee shop – it is a French Bakery and then some! This shop if frequented by EVERYONE! I have even seen workers from the other coffee shops in here. And that is because it is just so damn good! You won’t find anything else like it in The Last Frontier.

In the first week and a half I found myself in shop #2 frequently all due to the fact that they provide wireless internet service (the only public place in Kodiak, might I add). It is very important for me to keep up with my emails since I have just moved 6,000 miles from almost all of my friends and family. So, my Dad drops me off one morning to sit and check my email while he drives around town.

After I have been there for almost an hour, two women sit down on the couch next to me. It seems like 2 mothers just sitting down to relax, let the babies rock and they can sip their coffee and enjoy themselves. Well, as the conversation progresses, I realize that they are discussing how one of them should get her hair cut. I think, “Okay, this is reasonable. I’ve discussed a new haircut with girlfriends for a few minutes this is normal.” After 20 minutes of a detailed discussion, I am amazed! Well, it goes on from there. Not only are they talking about their own hair, but now they are discussing the hairstyles and dresses of The Emmy’s from the night before.

The time came for Dad to pick me up. I was so tempted to run out and let him know that I had to find out what everyone had worn to The Emmy’s the night before and they never did decide how woman #2 would have her hair cut! Needless to say, I didn’t expect the mothers of Kodiak to discuss hair and celebrities for extended periods of time. I swear, they told me that all that anyone would talk about were the bear attacks*.

*Now, this is a joke. I have not heard anyone discuss bear attacks, except for the Timothy Treadwell story, which was a sad story that has been made into a film recently.