Sunday Morning Rituals

I am undoubtedly a morning person. I find that everything is much more fresh and nice in the morning and it can sometimes make or break one’s day. For example, Tim Horton’s drive-thru in the afternoon usually involves a lot of muttering under one’s breath and frustration on both sides of the window. Tim Horton’s drive-thru in the morning (why isn’t it drive- through? Canadian’s have got to work on their grammar)?

Even though the morning crowd may be in a rush to get to work and don’t like to queue up, they are still generally quite cheerful. The Timmy’s people always have a smile and tell you to have a great day. Why? Probably because their day has just started, it probably has many wonders in store for them, or because no one has pissed them off just yet. I think out of all my friends and family, just my Dad and Tomo will get up before they have to and take some time to enjoy the morning. The rest of ya’ll are sooooo lazy!!!

So on Sunday mornings, if I have time, I’ll get up early enough to get ready and have at least an hour to kill at the Starbuck’s along the way to church.

I think I like these mornings so much because it’s a comforting ritual and in ways of culture. Since Sunday morning is usually not a day of rushing and frantic driving, people stop to hold open the door for you, say “good morning”, “thank-you” and “you’re welcome” all with a smile. Then I stand in line, while browsing the mugs and Barrista Coffee-Makers on sale, all very cute (I have a thing for big huge mugs that engulf your face while you sip your java). Then moving forward I get to peruse the baked goods, all of which I’m quite familiar with, and usually end up with a tall bold coffee in a grande cup in my happy little hand. I think I just like knowing that I have the choice of seeing if there is anything new to try (also something I love to do – if you need me to be in a product testing group, sign me up!).

Then I grab a seat by a window, sit and go over my sermon, read the Bible or a book that I’ve brought, or just sit doodling notes and thoughts. It may sound lonely to others but to me it’s absolute bliss. With my hectic schedule and the constant noise in my life, it’s nice to just be and it really helps start off my day well. Good thing that I did this yesterday because the rest of my day was crazy there-on-in and I was able to appreciate how Toronto weather went from winter and straight into summer. 23 Degrees!

I think the other thing I love is that although it’s the same destination, the crowd that is there on Sunday morning is radically different than that of the evening crowds who are just coming back or leaving to party it up (or the adolescents from last week’s encounter). It’s quite a change even from the weekday and morning crowd because those people are all about the in-and-out. That crowd orders their Mocha-Frappa-whatevers so quickly it makes my head spin.

Sunday morning crowds are quite peaceful, cheerful, easy going, and much like me they sit in happy solitude. Even couples who come in just sit there sharing a newspaper between the two of them in complete silence and smiles. There was a sweet elderly couple in front of me yesterday who were reading the newspaper and a gardening book. How cute! The music played is not your typical top 10, mainstream, Britney Spears pop stuff that you’d get everywhere else. It’s more like the Damien Rice/ Amy Winehouse tracks or Latin guitar stuff that doesn’t need a heavy bass-line to be felt. The artwork is local, supporting the community and the bulletin board has postings from neighbouring soccer clubs or schools who have benefited somehow from the fundraising support they’ve been given.

Seriously, this probably sounds a lot like an extended ad or review but in no way am I trying to promote the Buck’s and if I found an independent café nearby, I’d whole-heartedly spend my Sunday mornings there. Unfortunately, I hate the fact that some of the independent places do not always guarantee that they are open in the morning AND many still use Styrofoam. EEK! But that’s an entirely different issue saved for another blog =).