No Other ____ The Same: Welcome!

There's a little shop near the University of Pennsylvania that's different from the rest. For one thing, you don't see many students in there. Actually, there's usually only two people in there - the customer and the owner. The store sells fancy chocolates, old magazines, coffee, and some breakfast treats depending on the day. There's no soy or almond milk option. Cash is the only tender accepted, naturally. The owner is a loveable curmudgeon who usually stands in the doorway, staring at the passersby. A couple months ago, I went in frequently to buy chocolate. Now, most days I feel a bit guilty as he gives me a genial nod and lets me know, silently, that he is noticing that I haven't stopped in to make a purchase.

Today was a bit different. I for once had the cash to buy my overpriced chai tea latte (and let's be honest - a chocolate croissant), and the owner was nowhere to be seen. I gingerly stepped into the shop, and tentatively called out, "Hello? Good morning?"

A few minutes later, he leisurely came out of the back, acting as if I had interrupted his morning siesta. As he prepared my drink, another customer entered the store.

"Welcome!" the customer said, making a little bow with a flourish. The owner looked a bit displeased.

"Hello," he said drily.

"Don't you get it?" the customer said. "That 'welcome' is from Star Trek!" The owner gave him a blank stare.

"You don't watch Stark Trek?" the customer said. "I thought that would be your thing!"

"I guess I'm not a Star Trek kind of person," the owner said, a bit exasperated. I thanked him, paid for my coffee hastily, and left.

 

No Other ____ The Same: Priorities

At the park on Saturday, a little boy discovered some leaves. "LOOK!!!" he shouted to his older sister. "I FOUND LEAVES!!!" He dragged his little scooter over to the leaves. "Let's bury it!!" And just like that, his older sister and him set out to bury that scooter. Being that the scooter was rather tall and the leaves kept falling to the sides, it was a difficult endeavor. Yet with determination, he kept his priorities in mind and succeeded in burying it halfway. Then, he got a bit distracted - when his older sister started a leaf fight.

No Other _______ The Same: No Other Job The Same

Once again, my dear friend is off. Last Wednesday she got the call to start a job on Monday. Instead of being a dreamer, she's the ultimate doer and oh so wonderfully fearless. It's truly amazing.

No Other _____ The Same: Just Climb

While rock climbing at a gym with a friend yesterday, I thought of how simple rock climbing really is. I don't mean technique-wise. Most of the time we were just hoisting ourselves up that wall with little grace and brute force. Yet, looking up, trying to find the next rock to grab and a place to put my feet, I was completely focused. All I had to do was climb. And then laugh at myself if I fell, because I knew my friend would catch me.

No Other _____ The Same: Philly's Rep

Saturday evening, coming back from devouring delicious tofu hoagies and chocolate with a friend in West Philly, the trolley was crowded and rowdy. A group asked me where I was getting off. 

"Oh, Center City..." I replied vaguely. 

"Which station is Center City?" 

I told them more specifically where I was planning to disembark, noting in my head that my mother would have probably advised me against telling perfect strangers my exact travel plans. 

"Oh, that's where our hotel is!" they exclaimed. "Can you point us in the right direction?" 

I decided to trust them and showed them the way. 

"You know, you just raised Philly's reputation infinitely in our eyes," they said as they thanked me. 

"Why?", I asked innocently. "Does Philly have a bad reputation?"

No Other _____ The Same: Yep, I'm 32

Tonight, at the wine store: 

Me (joking): "Aren't you going to card me?"

Checkout clerk (straightfaced): "Nope. Not gonna do that."

Me: "Ohhhh....."

No Other ______ The Same: Weather

Today was 57 degrees in Louisiana. Not amazingly warm, you might say. Yet with the temperatures I've been used to lately in Philadelphia, it felt downright balmy. I walked around in just a sweater, brazenly, without a coat. Others, probably Southern Natives, scuttled around, bundled up in winter coats and scarves. 

No Other ______ The Same: No Other Travel the Same

Since I'm normally a bus-dweller, it's always a treat when I take a plane ride instead. I don't expect the same types of difficulties and challenges. Yet today, I experienced a bus-like moment when I was about to board the plane.

"Boarding will be suspended momentarily....maintenance is currently on the plane," the overhead voice said. Immediately my mind jumped to the vast possibilities. Was it the engine? 

"....Maintenance is currently on the plane, fixing a tray table," the voice continued. 

Clearly fixing a tray table would warrant a delay. Maybe it's time to think about the train. 

No Other ______ The Same: Uhuru is Moving

Walking home tonight, I came across this sign.

To some, this might not seem like a big deal. After all, Uhuru is simply a used furniture store, and a pretty odd used furniture store at that. Exhibit A: the sculpture in the window.

Yet Uhuru for me is synonymous with my introduction to Philadelphia 7 years ago. When I moved into my very first apartment without roommates, in a new city, with no furniture, I would go back and forth from Uhuru practically daily. Everything in there was cheap and definitely had a story. Throwing a dinner party? I'd pick up a new chair for $10. Needed one more wine glass? They had three for $5.00.

Uhuru is a project of the African People's Education and Defense Fund, so all purchases go to a good cause. Yet my relationship with Uhuru got a little bit awkward when I inadvertently got on their mailing list and Ruby, the manager, began calling and emailing me to come to all of their meetings. I said I could come to the meetings, but I didn't have extra money to donate. It turns out that she really wanted the money. I started avoiding Uhuru, a difficult feat since inevitably it would be on my way home.

I'm not sure what will replace it, but I doubt the new store will have the panache of Uhuru. Maybe I'll stop on in during the next couple of weeks, brave the chance of seeing Ruby, and pick up one more weird lamp to add to my unique furniture collection. 

No Other ______ The Same: The Piano Bar

All the newbies hang at the bar, being shoved constantly to the side by the people coming in and heading out. The regulars sit at the round tables closest to the piano, clearly well past their 2 drink minimum. The piano singer is on fire, belting out everything from Katy Perry to Queen to Lisa Loeb to Broadway showtunes. A rather large, macho bartender sings a surprisingly sassy version of "Part of your world" from The Little Mermaid. A customer sings a way too serious version of "Moondance" by Van Morrison, all the while pulling up his pants that keep falling down. The server blows everyone away as she belts out the high parts of "Seasons of Love" from Rent. As the patrons continue to drink, their voices get louder and more off-key as they sing along to all their favorite tunes.

No Other _____ The Same: Perspective

Today, as was the case of countless thankful teachers in the Philadelphia area, my workplace was closed, and I did not go in. When I first looked at my phone in the morning, my friend was already trying to contact me to urge me to get going so we could indulge in our favorite snow day ritual - brunch. On weekends, it's impossible to get into this place without waiting. The irony is that it has just a few tables inside and a huge waiting area outside where no one ever eats. Today, we sailed right in without a problem and sat down. We were in high spirits.

"Happy Snow Day!" we said cheerfully to our waitress. She smiled ruefully at us, and we thanked her for being open. "Yeah, no snow day for me!" she said. "At 5 AM when I was walking to work and the wind was howling and I was freezing, I thought - this is hell. This is actually, hell." We apologized and thanked her again for being open.

Snow days are heaven for some, and hell for others. Perspective...