People leaving our lives

We have had two "losses" in recent days, of people we interacted with frequently, who we probably will never see again.  Nadine and I both feel sad about this.

Angela worked at Peet's coffee, at 3rd and Fairfax, just across the street from Farmer's Market.  Nadine, a coffee maven, will only go to Peet's for coffee, except in extreme duress.  I'm more relaxed about where I get my coffee, but liked Peet's a lot, and the staff that work there.  We are in there about two or three times a week.  We know them, and they know us.  Angela was always cheerful, happy to see us, and interested.  This week she is leaving for a year to go to Japan.  Not sure exactly what she will be doing there.  First heard she would be back for some goodbyes on July 2, but now are told by other staff members that she has already left.  We will miss her, and miss having the chance to say good-bye to Angela.

Yesterday, we went to a local restaurant, Fiddlers, for breakfast with Nadine's cousin Natalie.  There was a handwritten sign posted on the door with special hours for the day, but we did not pay much attention to it.  (It's a holiday weekend).  After getting seated in a booth, asked the waiter (who was new to us) if he could clean up a spill on the floor near our booth.  "No one here who can do that".  Asked for hot tea, while waiting for Nat to arrive; it never came; he seemed annoyed by our presence.

After Natalie arrived, one of the regular servers, Pam, came and took our orders.  Ours included pancakes.  Shortly thereafter, Pam came back and told us that there "no pancakes today".  It was clear we were startled by this, and then Pam told us that it was the last day, that Fiddlers was closing, that she thought we already knew, until it became clear to her that we did not know what was going on.

The staff only got one week's notice.  And of course no severance package; it's a small business.  Pam, Vivian and Joey were our regular servers at Fiddlers.  Pam has worked there 17 years.  Vivian used to be our neighbor, when we lived in the garden apartment in Park La Brea.  (She moved before we did.)  Joey always wore the same hat at work.  Now, we will probably never see them again. Feels sad.

We wish them all well.