The Essential Small Town Barista (Blog #3)

    

Trudi Williams is one of the most beloved people I know in my small town. Visitors might only see her as a local barista, but she is so much more than that. Trudi grew up in Fair Haven and has lived in the same house since she was a kid. She spends five out of the seven days a week working at Booskerdoo. 
Trudi is the first one to open up the store at 5:30 am. For many, that's far too early to rise, but Trudi takes pride in getting up to open the shop. She enjoys the quiet time and greeting the early morning customers.

    She has worked at this location for over 20 years and rides a bicycle or walks to work each day. In my article, Fair Haven Familiar Face, I write about how she began her career as a barista at the Java Stop, which later became the very popular Booskerdoo Coffee that exists there today. The owners of the coffee shops love having Trudi as a barista, not just because of her work ethic but because she makes the daily ritual of buying coffee a joyous experience for all who stop by.

    Besides being an unofficial "greeter," she works hard at making coffee and other drinks like iced tea and hot chocolate. Additionally, she helps in the bakery when needed and ensures the shop is clean and ready for the big crowds. She's a familiar face to all during the day, yet outside of Booskerdoo, I was curious to learn more about Trudi. 

    Trudi lives in Fair Haven, less than 5 minutes away, so biking or walking is the most convenient way for her to get to work. On occasion, Trudi can be seen walking her dog while riding her bike. Her dog Bailey is about four years old and is a brown and white beagle. 

    When I am home from college, I always stop by to see if Trudi is working. She is usually surrounded by other customers who are conversing with her. There have been many articles written about Trudi in local publications, and they all share the theme of how loved Trudi is. One piece, written by a woman raised in Fair Haven who recently moved away, said when she comes back to town, she always makes it a top priority to stop by Booskerdoo to say hi to Trudi. 

    While it may be more convenient for many to stop by a Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts, preorder their coffee, and rush along with their busy day without human interaction, that's not why people go to Booskerdoo. People stop by the quaint corner coffee shop, with little available parking and long lines, to say hello to friends, neighbors, but, most of all, Trudi. 

    The other day, I walked into Booskerdoo, and there she was. I told Trudi I was writing a story about her for my blog. Her smile lit up from ear to ear. I explained to her that I would be going abroad to study in Budapest, Hungary, for the next few months, but I leave on February 11th. 

  As I continued to explain the prompts to Trudi, she had a huge smile still on her face as she was honored and thrilled to hear that I would be writing about her. I told her I had read other articles about her and had no idea she was such a local celebrity. A local customer overheard our conversation and interjected, "Trudi is truly the best!" He was right. 

    Customers will follow Trudi regardless of what coffee shop has its address at 793 River Road. While the coffee she serves may be tasty, her kindness, smile, and care for her customers, make her an essential part of what makes our little community so special!