It was a pleasure to serve alongside you

Yesterday was Shift X (159****)'s last day. X started exactly three weeks before me, so she will remain one of the people who helped shape my formative days as a barista. During my first day of training, she actually presented my first coffee tasting (Verona). My initial reaction to her was that she was a prototype of the hardworking --yet prone to perfectionism-- legendary barista and she was just a partner for three weeks.

Since starting work at the Bux, I'd say that I have worked with X the most, as she was the shift who worked the majority of mornings. Her youthful presence and competence was a great addition to the store and many of our customers and co-workers found it to be an asset. Although she sometimes became too focused and ordered us to accomplish a million things in half a day, she tried her best to keep everyone busy, yet not overworked. For what it is worth, that is my perspective.

When there was some open time, we got to know each other better. Before being told to ditch our canvas shoes for sturdier footwear, we proudly wore our Vans. We both have mothers who share the same name. We both love to travel and she's great at finding deals online. But if it wasn't for a six-year age gap, the fact that she's married, and I'm not sexually attracted to her, my search for the love of my life would be over.

From BCs, short soy CMs, to PTs, she gets something different every day. If I had to identify her consistent regular drink, it must be a soy OMBB. Although she had a brief affair with a Venti CF with SFH and SFV.

It was our latest conversations that hinted at an eventual departure from the island. Living here is definitely different from visiting on a vacation.

So it wasn't a complete surprise that just last week, I found out that she is indeed moving from the island and going back to her old job on the mainland. Although I could tell she was happy to finally see her adorable nieces and nephews, she has not counted out a potential return to the Bux or Maui. I told her that she is certainly "good at it". "It" being that she was a positive contributor and direct individual who assisted in keeping our chaotic mornings as sane as possible. I will miss her pulling the reins on me when my mind is spinning in a thousand directions. I will miss our random chats about NorCal and plans for the future. And I will miss her ordering me to do the floors. (I am most definitely kidding about this one. It was a slight annoyance how she managed to ask me to clean the floors four days in a row since she knows I wouldn't say no! ;) But I digress.

At the end of my shift, I quietly went in the back room where she was counting out and I gave her a big goodbye hug and said that I am going to miss her. She reacted with a smile and said, "Even though I drive you crazy?!" Most definitely. There is something to be said about getting too attached to people in the workplace, however I could not help but get close and build bonds with some of my fellow baristas like X.

Aloha oi, X. I'll keep your word and I'll see you on the streets of SF one day.