A few days ago, I was in line at one of my many local Starbucks stores. There was a young woman ahead of me who was overly put together. Upon reaching the register, she ordered an "extra hot, venti, no foam, skinny, quad shot latte with two pumps of hazelnut syrup." Then she proceeded to argue with the barista regarding how much the concoction costs. It was very "LA Story."I found the whole episode both amusing and irritating. The amusing part was that the order was like a parody of a Starbucks order from Saturday Night Live. The irritating part was that it wasn't a parody, and she was holding up a long line and blocking me from my simple drink (a tall coffee). There also seemed to be a sense of arrogance and entitlement, as if the staff was there specifically to meet her exact and refined needs.
I've pondered my reaction to this seemingly innocuous incident and the deeper questions it raises. Am I overly impatient? What does it mean for Manhattan to be increasingly populated by affluent yuppies who can seem demanding and self-centered? Does having the ability to order such a drink represent possibility or a problem? Do I need a better drink that I can order at the Starbucks counter? Or will the economy force us all to start drinking black coffee from Dunkin' Donuts?
What do my readers think?
