Baker Joe's Tale

ALOHA

 Means "Welcome"

"A kiss that speaks volumes

 is seldom a first edition."

  Clare Whiting

"A tattoo is a true poetic creation,
 and is always more than meets the eye.
  As a tattoo is grounded on living skin,
 so its essence emotes a poignancy
 unique to the mortal human condition. "


V. Vale and Andrea Juno, Modern Primitives

"The world is divided into two kinds of people:

  those who have tattoos,

 and those who are afraid of people with tattoos."

Author Unknown

Note:
Names have been changed because I respect privacy - not because there's 'anything wrong with that.'

I like the little boutique hotel across the street from the beach.  It's the right size, human size, and the fact that Honolulu's flag-ship Gay Bar has moved there makes for an interesting dynamic.  

First of all, the lobby and the rest of the place is very clean & stylish - "Queer Eyed" you might say.

  And I know that the rainbow flag waving from the second floor is sort of a talisman that keeps intolerance out of the place.  I like tolerance, and though I'm no longer the sort who dances the night away, I do like stopping in during the day to shoot the breeze.

  Sometimes my husband and our friends shoot some daytime pool there.  Plus I get to see friends, and to make friends in the building. . . Me Mum's moving in the place this month.

 Everyone is welcome in the hotel and it is a mixed bunch of residents and visitors, so those who might be "uncomfortable" kind of self-select themselves OUT.

One morning Baker Joe came in to the bar and announced:

 "I think I've been discriminated against.

 Aw, never mind."

But we all wanted to know about it.  Joe is "straight appearing" so we were curious.  Turns out this talented pastry chef who works at one of the town's great restaurants had sought extra work at the local branch of a national Super Market Chain that boasts it's own bakery.  After a few days, they told him "he's not good enough."  An experienced pastry chef - right.

What no one knew is that I had just met and spoken to the head baker of a wholly local concern that is expanding.  Now, I speak with everyone!  Just go right up to them and act like we're all friends. Well aren't we?  Gotta know when to let folks be, but mostly I speak with everyone.

So I got on the phone to speak to the head baker fellow I'd met. But his boss, the founder and a local immigrant success story hero, Mr. Lamm, picked up thee phone. 

 What a thrill and privilege to speak with HIM! 

 I know I gushed a little.  He asked why I was calling, and I started telling him about baker Joe.

"Oh my wife and I love the bread at that restaurant."  (where Joe bakes)

They interviewed Joe;

And they hired him!

So speak with everyone.

  Being strangers is merely a feature and illusion of wearing a body.

  We'll all laugh about it in the next world.  

You know, you and I are friends without having met

 in-body.

Perhaps our blogging friendships are a foretaste of Heaven?

      Warmly, cloudia