Spilling the beans about a Coffee Day close call
Support the Christmas Cheer Fund, just make sure it’s coffee that Rob is pouring
The mind rewinds to an infamous day, early in this millennium, when people went out for breakfast and I was out to lunch.
During Coffee Day — a fundraiser for the Regina Leader-Post’s Christmas Cheer Fund — I waddled from table to table, inquiring as to whether any of the customers at Nicky’s Café were in a decaffeinated state of mind.
Everybody was having a wonderful time.
And then … panic. Chaos, even. I had mistakenly picked up a pot of maple syrup, as opposed to decaffeinated coffee.
(Gulp.)
In full force, Nicky’s staffers scoured the restaurant, asking if anyone had ingested the decaffeinated maple syrup. Due to the prompt response, there weren’t any incidents, and I was not arrested or charged. (However, I think I spent the remainder of Coffee Day’s darkest hour handing out butter pats.)
Fast forward to this past Saturday, when the 16th annual Coffee Day was held.
The team of volunteers included Regina-Wascana MP Ralph Goodale, Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, and L-P legends Brenda Indzeoski, Tim Switzer, Will Chabun, Amanda Amberson, Murray McCormick and Ashley Martin. I was there, too, just to annoy people.
During the hour I spent pouring non-decaffeinated coffee, I approached a table that was occupied by Murray, Ashley and Amanda — whereupon I discovered that there was nearly a reprise of the horrifying Maple-gate.
“I was looking for decaf and saw a pot with an orange handle on a warmer, so I grabbed it,” Amanda, the Leader-Post’s media strategist, said during an exclusive interview.
“Luckily, I was a server long enough that something felt off, so I confirmed, ‘Decaf is orange, right?’ In response, I got, ‘Yes, but that’s syrup!’
“So we were able to avoid a ‘sticky’ situation.”
Nonetheless, I considered it vindication. I am not too proud to delude myself.
You should know that I handled my responsibilities in flawless fashion on Saturday.
I stood around, chatted with people, and poured at least three cups of coffee without injuring anybody.
Amber MacLeod, a lifelong Saskatchewan Roughriders enthusiast, was her typically delightful self while sitting among like-minded individuals.
Dennis and Marion Nestegard were at Coffee Day, as per tradition, full of good cheer and questions about the Roughriders.
“Do you think Duron Carter will try the NFL?” Dennis asked.
“Uh, I dunno,” I responded, authoritatively.
Kevin Illingworth, one of the finest touch football players in the history of our fair city, dropped by with his father, Jim.
I was promptly informed that Jim’s wife, Josie, is a voracious reader of my sports column.
“But,” Jim noted, “she doesn’t always agree with your opinions on the Roughriders.”
Neither do I.
I also met the mighty Quinns — Helen, Larry and Jeff — and had a nice chat. Larry is a regular at the downtown YMCA. He noted, accurately, that he hadn’t seen me there in a while.
That likely explains a lot. Pass the gravy.
Our ace photographer, Brandon Harder, introduced himself to the Quinns and asked if some pictures could be taken.
Jeff’s coffee cup was full, but I nonetheless did some make-believe pouring for the purposes of the photograph.
“Is this fake news?” Jeff inquired. Well, yeah, but everyone who visited Nicky’s Café and Catering was genuine.
Proceeds from Saturday morning’s coffee sales generated $500 for the Christmas Cheer Fund, which benefits four Regina women’s shelters — WISH Safe House, SOFIA House, Regina Transition House and the YWCA’s Isabel Johnson Shelter.
Thank you to everyone for an enjoyable time — including Amanda Amberson for making me feel a little better about, well, you know ...
There are several ways to donate:
Online at leaderpost.com By mailing a cheque, money order or credit card info to Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund, 1964 Park St., P.O. Box 2020, Regina, Sask., S4P 3G4. Please make cheques payable to Leader-Post Foundation – Christmas Cheer. An official donation receipt from the LeaderPost Foundation will be emailed or mailed to you in February. An ongoing ad in the Regina Leader-Post provides details and donation form.
By phone at 306-781-5211, Select Option 6 to leave a message, your call will be returned to take donation information.
In-person during office hours 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at 1964 Park St.