Pink Straws

This time last year we lost our friend, Stacy, in a tragic accident.  Not only did I think of her over the weekend, I think of her every time I see a pink straw.

Stacy was one of the first barista's we ever met.  She had Kevin's number from go. Those two would just harass each other endlessly and love it the entire time.  Not only at the coffee stand but also in the middle of the CCU of the hospital. It didn't matter the location, their jobs were to insult and tease each other.  (To clarify: Stacy was a registered nurse and consulted on our behalf during one of Kevin's mom's stays at the hospital.)

So, what's with the pink straw?

Know that if you see a man with a pink straw in their iced drink or coffee, he's probably a jerk to baristas.  That is their way to get back to men when they are rude or harassing them. Subtle, yet genius.  Because if you're a d*ck enough to be rude to cute girls at the coffee stand, then a simple pink straw in your drink is going to ruin your day.

One day Kevin came home and he had a pink straw in his drink.  I was a little "Wut?" about it. Then Kevin explained that Stacy gave him the pink straw because she knew he would have to explain to his guys at work why he had a pretty, pretty pink straw.  He had sassed her and that was her revenge.

And so this went on for days/months, if Stacy made his drink: it had a pink straw.  It didn't matter if I picked it up or if Kevin did. Pink straw.

Then we noticed one day that the other girl was giving Kevin a pink straw.  He thought it was a coincidence and moved on with his life. Then it happened again.  And again. 

Finally, just curious, he asked the girls why he was getting a pink straw.  He wanted to make sure that he wasn't inadvertently rude or what.  They laughed uncomfortably and said "Well, Stacy said that we had to give you a pink straw when you come through."

Kevin was nonplussed, laughing in disbelief.  "She did, huh?" 

The girls were worried that he would be mad and he assured them that he wasn't.  But it was on now.

So, if he knew it was Stacy working, he would wait for the car in front of him to pull away then he would honk.  Just to be a brat.  At 5:30 IN THE MORNING.

And the pink straws continued. As did the honking.

All too soon, Stacy left the stand to do her grown-up job.  We were really sad that she left but was excited that she had achieved her dream of becoming a nurse full-time.

It's been YEARS since Stacy worked there and the girls continue to give Kevin a pink straw.  It's actually written down in Stacy's handwriting on a note pinned to the wall in the stand "Give Kevin in the white truck a pink straw."

Stacy's been dead a year now. And the pink straws continue.  I think of her every time I see one.