Home away from Home

You know, when I was in college, my home away from home was not my dorm room. It was not my apartment. It was my lab room in Gottwald Science Center. If you needed to find me, that is where you would need to look. Day or night, I lived in Gottwald D-pod. Alan, the security guard, and I were on a first name basis. I had my own key. The delivery guy knew where to look for me, if there were packages at the post-office for me. The only one who didn't get the memo was the parking ticket-meister, who consistently would give me parking tickets for parking outside my building. :-P

Now that I have graduated, my home away from home has changed slightly. It is not my parents' house. It is not my parents' barn (although the goat would be more than pleased to have company). No, dear friends, my home away from home is Panera.

Ah, Panera, that wonderful and delightful oasis of fresh and unlimited coffee. Bagels. Sandwiches. Soup. Bread. Free wi-fi. And music which is the same no matter the time of day or the location of the store.

No matter where I am, no matter whom I'm with, no matter what the city, I know that I can find a home in my friendly Panera:

There's the one in Clemson, South Carolina, where I spent many a pleasant hour before a friend's wedding.
There's the one by my church, with the cute orderly and the friendly businessfolk.
There's the one by Walmart that is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit even on the warmest days.
There's the one on Rt 60, where I stop for a quick coffee before hitting campus.
There's even the one in St. Louis that calls itself by a different name, but bears my familiar logo!

Now, I know what you're thinking... Panera? Really? For a coffee snob, that's not so classy, Kristen. But dearly loved, it's Panera. This is my home away from home.

If I want class, I go to a bistro.
If I want atmosphere, I go to an off-the-record coffee joint with overstuffed sofas, dim lighting, and poetry readings on the weekends.
If I want a coffee experience, I go to the place that has coffee bushes growing behind the shop.

But when I just need a few moments of sanity, a good place to do work, and a friendly cup of unlimited coffee... you will find me in Panera. No matter the freezing temperatures of overcooked air-conditioning. No matter the cleaning products which give me allergic reactions. No matter the repetitious saxaphone music playing on an eternal loop. Rain or shine, stormy or fair, you will find me in the neighborhood Panera.

In fact, you might just find me there right now....