a happy place

 I have fewer than I once did, and some of the ones I used to go to, I won't be going to for a while yet.

But here's one - the bubble tea place in my mom's town. It's called Fusion Brew, it's been there for 15+ years (it started in one location, moved to another - which actually used to house a yarn shop that went out of business). Before the pandemic they had tables everywhere and even hosted ukulele nights. 

I liked them because I like bubble tea, and yes, I admit, I have some twee hipsterish tendencies. The place just made me happy - they have that kind of quiet lo-fi-ish "coffeehouse instrumentals" playing, almost like new-age music but more tuneful. And the baristas are generally pretty friendly and cheerful. Usually when I went there I got my orders to go, because I was usually on my way home from being out anyway, so the loss of the tables during the pandemic (they did re-open one of the two seating areas, though for how long, I don't know).

They don't have a drive through window, unfortunately, but they were doing a thing where they would run your order out to your car if you texted them the make/model you were in. (That was in May, when the mask mandate was still in place in my mom's town: it said on the door to either come in masked, or call in your order and they'd bring it out. I just walked in, as I had a mask on). 

I think my favorite is the Thai iced tea with boba but I also admit a fondness for strawberry milk tea, partly because it's pink and looks like the most girly drink possible, and that amuses me for some reason. 

I went a couple times to get bubble teas when I was up there recently; the last visit I decided I wanted one of their t-shirts - they have t-shirts and sweatshirts and "commuter cups" and I think caps. 

I think they've had this logo since the start of their business - they have a wood mural of the branches and flowers up in their shop, and I seem to remember it from their original location. 

I hope the t-shirt helps support them; they're one business I was hoping hard made it through the pandemic and so far they have. And anyway, it reminds me of standing in there, waiting for my drink, listening to the quiet music and just the peacefulness of being in one of those "third places" that seems increasingly rare in our society any more.