Saturday, May 10, 2008

Everyday for the past 8 months I have gone to the L'Etoile Manquante to get a café and read at the zinc bar. I am always polite with my “bonjour monsieur”, “au revoir Monsieur”, “S’il vous plait” and “Merci”. Yesterday, after saying my usual hello, the bartender looked at me and after a moment of thoughtful consideration he walked over, said “bonjour” and…. shook my hand.

In my mind the café became dead quiet -you could hear a pin drop. Suddenly everyone in the café stood and began applauding. A spotlight hit me. I blushed and fanned myself with my hands but that couldn’t keep the tears from welling up. I accepted his handshake as though I were accepting the Miss Teen U.S.A crown.

I shook his hand as I left, trying not to appear too pleased with myself.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's so cool!

Anonymous said...

You were never Miss Teen USa...

amy said...

that's wonderful! congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Miss congeniality? ( just kidding )

Misplaced said...

I could have been Miss Teen USA but I was too busy competing as a "mathlete"

~Michelle~ said...

You're In Like Flynn, Baby. Another dude with rockin' hair!

For those who don't know whom I'm referring to, go here:
www.inlikeflynn.com.

Karyn said...

I love this post. I just do.

From Micki Maynard: said...

You made it! Consider yourself accepted.

Anonymous said...

'Tis a momentous occasion, isn't it, the passing from Just A Customer to A Regular Worthy Of A Handshake. Congratulations.

Samantha said...

I can SO picture this. I have seen many of these bartender handshakes go down, but I have never participated in one. You lucky bastard.

Bill and Nancy on Eclaircie said...

I walked by l'Etoile Manquante today and thought that it looked like a nice café, little did I realize that it was "your" café. Congratulations on being a regular in a café in Paris.