Lines
Two lines diverged in my neighborhood. I'm thankful I only frequent one. Line 1 appears on Sunday mornings. My wife and I never miss dutifully taking our place in this one. We leave or home about 9:20 and walk a few blocks to what she has deemed the "Bread Church." No house of worship, we wait patiently for the opening of a bakery that appeared shortly after the pandemic. This sacred place sells bread by subscription during the week, but on Sundays the door opens to a wonderland of other baked goods. My favorite is the olive twist a spiral shaped roll laced with three kinds of whole olives. They are usually still warm when we get them. Katie likes the cherry buckwheat scones best. But there are so many other things to choose from. Last week we saw marionberry hand pies, molasses cake, oat raspberry scones, and mushroom gruyere slabs. The breads are composed of a variety of local grains, sunflower rye, triticale, spelt, buckwheat, barley, and sprouted wheat.
In line, people are friendly and have grown to be a community. Kids, dogs, in-laws, and out of town visitors often accompany those in line. This bakery has become a destination location for our community. The couple who founded the bakery greet their customers like family as well. Line 1 lasts all morning and into the afternoon. People let their eyes do the spending. From brief observation it appears to me each customer spends between $30. and $90. There is always something new to try.
About 5 blocks away on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Line 2 forms. It winds around our local Food Bank. Some folks in this line are friendly too. They are as loyal as the people in Line 1. They often have to wait in rain storms. People in Portland know rain, and they don't carry umbrellas. That does not deter them. They carry boxes and bags and small carts to transport the donated food: fresh produce, protein, and dry goods. Like the Sunday bakery line, this line seems to be growing longer each week.
I often think about the two lines and wonder what life circumstances or choices have determined what line my neighbors stand in most often. Two lines that reflect all the differences.
Comments