A creature of routine.
Today is Wednesday, and that means new comic books hit the stores. I always looks forward to Wednesdays, and not just because I’m guaranteed to see superheroes flying around and stopping evil-doers. There’s a tradition that’s developed around Wednesdays that is, quite honestly, the backbone of my week.
Every Wednesday for the past few years I met up with my friend Sandra for lunch. We used to go to Charlie’s Kitchen in Harvard Square and sit in the same booth every time. For an hour or so we’d sit around in Charlie’s Kitchen having a few drinks, catching up on what happened that previous week and generally shooting-the-breeze. The bartender, a stunning D&D geek named Noreen, came to know us by name, and it was with her that I was finally able to say “I’ll have the usual.” I still think about that black bean burger topped in guacamole. Mmm.
Afterwards we paid the bill and tipped Noreen we would walk a few stores down to the comic book shop, where the employees came to know us by name as well. We’d go straight to the “new this week” section and grab our favorite books, sometimes alongside the employees who were pulling that week’s subscriptions. We’d bullshit with them for a little bit, then I’d see Sandra off at the bus and we’d go home to read our new comics.
I am very much a creature of routine and I still think very fondly of our “Comic Book Days” in Harvard Square.
Things changed, like they do. I moved to San Antonio for a year and was without any friends to share my comic bookery and gossip about people we used to know. There were no bartenders who knew exactly what I wanted every week, much less any I could talk to about my 5th level half-orc mage. I was still able to go buy comic books, but it just wasn’t the same.
I returned to New York briefly, where the comic book shop I went to featured an owner that would routinely yell orders to his employees, often with me standing right beside him. He would also try to sell me comics that I never wanted. “Yer gettin’ this, but not this? Dude, lemme grab you this title over here. Yer gonna love it. It’s only a coupla extra bucks more, right?” He was a very nice man, but every so often his voice still rings in my ears.
I recently returned to Boston where I was reunited with my beloved routine, even though it had also changed, like things do.
Sandra and I no longer go to Charlie’s Kitchen because we live closer to another bar, which has much better lighting and beers from around the world. The waiter who always serves us doesn’t know us by name yet, but when it comes to my lunch I can say “I’ll have the usual” and he knows what I mean. Score.
Noreen moved to New York City, where she is much happier and enjoying great success on her chosen path. I saw her this past summer. She’s still a D&D geek and she’s still stunning.
As for the employees at the new comic book store we go to, they call Sandra everything from “Sarah” to “Sondra,” and they basically know me as “that guy who always comes in with Sondra.” Close enough.
Don’t worry, Sandra, I think you’re stunning, too. 
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