People Watching in a Mississippi Starbucks

I’m typing this as I sit in a local Starbucks.  Jackson, Mississippi, is an interesting mix of Southern Heritage and Metropolitan sophistication.  Currently waiting in line there is a family wearing their camoflague that I assume they wore this morning at their deer camp, a homosexual man who exudes all of the flambouyant characteristics that makes the military nervous about repealing Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell, forty-something year old Mom’s who shouldn’t be wearing the work-out attire they’re wearing because it’s TOTALLY not age or body shape appropriate, and the wanna be hipster teenagers who think Ug boots, leggings, and not quite long enough plaid shirts are sufficient clothing for this 50 degree weather.  What a wonderful snap shot of Southern Culture!  Ooh, a couple of older ladies walked in with their fur coats and ostentatious diamond jewelry.  Only in North East Jackson will we see women dress like they’re going to a performance at the Metropolitan Opera when they run out for a cup of coffee!  Love it!

I must confess that I LOVE people watching.  I think it is fascinating watching people mill about business as usual in airports, malls, and coffee shops.  You’ll see the best and worst of humanity in these situations: people holding doors open for a total stranger whose hands are full, people helping someone pick up/clean up something they’ve spilled or dropped, people running after someone who has left their credit card or change; or on the other end of the spectrum you’ll see people bitch out the poor salesclerk who is already within an inch of his or her sanity, people cutting in line because they think they are entitled to not having to wait in line, shoplifting or shortchanging someone, and my favorite the inevitable physical altercation that will arise when there is only one iPod touch left at the Wal-Mart electronics counter two days before Christmas… yes I’ve seen this.  God bless Mississippi!