Sir Daniels and the anonymous favourite neighbour

Never mind that it's only Tuesday, it's been a looonnnnggg week. In fact, I'm about THIS close to dubbing it the (a?) week from hell, while simultaneously chanting "And this, too, shall pass", "I love my job" "And this, too, shall pass", "I love my job", "And this, too, shall pass". In other words (reading between the lines) -- deadlines and politics (or politics and deadlines??). Gotta love 'em.... Especially when they leave you so brain dead that, in the absence of a warm body to cuddle up against at home while watching some odd stand-up comedy TV show to take your mind off it all, you desperately crave a stiff drink ... or two.

And so it was that, in an endeavour to find a mixing parter for my dear friend Jack D., I ended up making a visit to my favourite little "after-hours" convenience store around the corner. As much as I love the place (or more accurately the owner of the place), prices are decidedly steeper than "normal" stores and so, I do not generally go there often. Even so, the slick bun-bearing , charismatic Salvadoran owner always recognises me and is full of cheery conversation. While the first clue tonight may have been my walking straight past the obtrusive Coke machine and then asking if she had any Coke, she took one look at me and asked if it had been a long day - "You look tired, guapa", she said.

I've often thought of dropping off a batch or two of cookies for her during the holidays, just to say how much she brightens my days, but I haven't - yet. Funny thing is after two years and bunches of casual, friendly chats of differing depths and topics, I do not know her name. Quite frankly, I'm not any too convinced I want to know it. Somehow, in a weird sort of way, I enjoy things the way that they are ... a warm and friendly neighbour who, with a grandmother's wisdom, doesn't have to ask for the whole story, but rather can take one soul-searching look at a bottle of Coke, another look at me, and say with a reassuring smile and chuckle, "Don't worry guapa, the weekend's almost here!"