WIith the End in Sight...Mike's Spirit Remains

With a little over a week left, and an uncertain future to arrive the day it ends, my good buddy Mike remains spirited. This morning, as we bantered about various crap, I asked Mike to kill the radio and put on one of my CDs. He went for his favorite, the first one I made. He loves the song "Freeway" by Aimee Mann and always sings along to "Where Were You Last Night" by The Traveling Wilburys. The latter even got a little juke out of him. One of the customers was tapping his foot to "Fireman's Wedding" by Joe Henry.

Obviously taken with the music and excitement Mike asked if we could just start the going away party right then. I told him that I'd love to, but I need to head to Golden Gate Park this afternoon to search for my future home. Seems as if he's moving there as well. We're looking into electricity options. If you're around on Sat, Feb 14 at 5pm and would like to come bid Mike good wishes, stop by.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have read your blogs about Fillmore Grind since the beginning and it brings me great sorrow to see that it is soon to close.
The place seemed like the coffee shop of dreams for me and Mike the ideal proprietor.
I love that you have taken a place and made it part of your heart and imagination as well as that of your readers.
It shows where you come from.
Please have one for me at the going away party.

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for the kind words. It is, hands down, my favorite place in San Francisco. Mike has a unique charm that is sorely rare today. After 12 years at the location, he still asks people what he should charge for their order. I mean, where can you find that?

He will be sorely, sorely missed - not just for his coffee and treats, but for his friendship. I hope that him and I stay in touch.

Anonymous said...

That unique charm. I realise that it is that unique charm that I try to surround myself with as much as I can. My friends, the music I listen to, the foods I love most, the places I feel most at home, my clothes... and sometimes I get the feeling that a lot of other people are reaching for that same thing. It's to the point where that unique charm in its most pure, genuine form is harder and harder to find.
Such a crime it is.
Either the places disappear or find some way of making themselves more like something else...
Good mother of pearl, what do we do when all that's left is wal mart and starbucks?
Places that wouldn't piss on you if you were engulfed in flames let alone play a mix cd you made without getting it approved by the district manager.
(end rant)
I feel old now. I'm going to go tell some kids to get off my lawn.

Anonymous said...

That unique charm. I realise that it is that unique charm that I try to surround myself with as much as I can. My friends, the music I listen to, the foods I love most, the places I feel most at home, my clothes... and sometimes I get the feeling that a lot of other people are reaching for that same thing. It's to the point where that unique charm in its most pure, genuine form is harder and harder to find.
Such a crime it is.
Either the places disappear or find some way of making themselves more like something else...
Good mother of pearl, what do we do when all that's left is wal mart and starbucks?
Places that wouldn't piss on you if you were engulfed in flames let alone play a mix cd you made without getting it approved by the district manager.
(end rant)
I feel old now. I'm going to go tell some kids to get off my lawn.