A part-time job at my favorite local coffee shop provides a front-row seat to everyday life. I’m sharing a few observations here on Mondays. Enjoy!

This isn’t exactly news to me, but from my vantage point behind the coffee counter I’ve taken note this week of this truth — age is just a number.

Here are a couple of examples from my recent shifts at Great Lakes Chocolate and Coffee:

• The 12-year-old young lady who came to the counter with her mom and older sister had all the poise of a woman twice her age when she casually told her mom “I’ll pay for my own today.” Opening her sparkly wallet, she drew out what might be baby-sitting money or her allowance and placed an order for a vanilla caramel latte with whipped cream. Then, counting out her change, she added a chocolate-covered pretzel to her order. Cup and pretzel in hand and a smile on her face, she proudly joined her family in their booth. Whether you’re 12 or 62, sometimes special treats taste best when you sacrifice something to get them.
• “So, are you the new manager?” An efficient and friendly delivery boy carrying boxes through our back door made this assumption when he saw me, the oldest female behind the counter, pulling supplies from the freezer. With a chuckle, I pointed him to our very capable 20-something manager who is juggling college, a baking business and this full-time job. I may look the part, but she has the energy and the courage to fill the bill.
• A sweet older couple, probably in their retirement years, placed their order and took their cups to a quiet corner booth where they sat on the same side of the table and commenced a conversation littered with chuckles and smiles. Their casual familiarity declared how much they enjoyed one another’s company. Another pair with the obvious glow of newly-dating or newly-married sweetly teased one another while choosing from the frozen drinks. Their young fingers linked casually between them, they fairly skipped back across the parking lot to his pick-up truck. Love declares — age is just a number.