Last Christmas I was given a most interesting and unique gift – a subscription to Storyworth. What is Storyworth? A business that provides a writing prompt weekly. The idea is to write a short story and publish it on the Storyworth website where a group of people you select may read it. At the end of a year, all your stories are published in a very nice hard-bound book. It’s a great concept which I have enjoyed although I cannot keep pace with a weekly story. Also, in case you have failed to notice, I tend to be rather wordy in my writing where Storyworth seems to lend itself to shorter, more concise entries. I don’t believe there are rules about this but that is my take. My most recent prompt was, Am I a Regular at any Restaurant or Café? I published my story on Storyworth but felt an urge to broaden it out a bit and publish it in Espresso Shots where it would have more broad exposure. So here it is...
I never thought about having a “regular” place that I considered mine until Sharla’s Coffee Stop came along. Of course, there were places I liked to go but nothing that approached my feelings about Sharla’s.
So, what is the attraction? Oh, so many things. . . to begin, the proprietors, Dave & Sharla, are wonderful people. I struck a bond with them quickly on the first day they opened.
The location is incredibly perfect for several reasons. Sharla’s is in Whitford Hall, one of the precious old buildings on the Historic Milton College Campus. The rooms they occupy were formerly the college and community library. The walls, windows, wainscoting, and flooring are all original. The history is palpable as you sit and savor great espresso-based beverages, freshly baked scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and breads. Even more, there are a variety of beverage offerings for those non-coffee drinkers.
I should mention that Sharla’s is a mere 250 steps from my driveway. My home office window has a perfect view of their great patio. Additionally, Sue and I have significant ties to Milton College for a host of reasons – the place is in our bones. A great coffee shop just seems “right.”
Our phenomenal city, Milton, has no other small business like this. In fact, Sharla’s is the only “true” coffee shop with a 10-mile radius. Sharla’s has become a gathering place not only for those who live in my “home base” - the Milton College Historic Neighborhood, but also for the city and the broader area. The atmosphere at Sharla’s embodies neighborhood and community.
Milton schools and all those Rising Red Hawk students are very important to me. Dave and Sharla have embraced Milton High School’s, School to Career program, and hire many of our high school students. I so enjoy becoming acquainted with them and observing as they grow and learn about “adult world” working skills. Many have become friends. I know their names and they know mine along with my favorite coffee beverage when I walk in the door. We recognize and greet each other when our paths happen to cross at other events. I have become acquainted with their parents. Some have graduated and moved on but there is the occasional connection. OPPORTUNITY, ACHIEVMENT, COMMUNITY – a perfect example.
When I go to Sharla’s (some accuse me of living or having an office there) I encounter so many people whom I know from across the community and region. It’s the greatest location for a “meet-up” and serves so well the “work” that I do. To me, Milton is like my garden. It requires planting, cultivating, watering, pruning, fertilizing - just like a garden. Sharla’s is the perfect place to do that.
Katie & Eric own the building. They and their family live in the top floor and operate a Cross Fit studio on the ground floor. They are good neighbors and great people. I love running into them there. Eric is on the City Council, so I get a chance to bend his ear a bit about our community. I see local shop owners there, Kate & Kelly, and many others. I see the library staff, Ashlee, Jayme, and their gang stopping in. I see Amber, Bill, and author Jim, from the neighborhood. I see Jessica, Ryan and many others from the school district, Keaton from the Historical Society, Doug from the Milton College Preservation Society, friends from my Mercy days, my spiritual coaches (I need many) Pastor Liz & Pastor Nate, and high school classmates. Sharla's has hosted community meetings, piano & voice recitals, high school study groups, knitting clubs, MOFIA – my men's Bible study group (you're welcome to join us at 6:30 a.m. every Wednesday), yoga, personal counseling, mutual support, and much more – the “stuff” of life as it were. I often encounter city council and school board members there. True neighborhood and community building in action.
If you haven’t visited Sharla’s, you are missing so many good things that make and foster our community.
#cruzan4milton#WEAREMILTON
No comments:
Post a Comment