I like coffee. Not all coffee, Dunkin Donuts coffee. This article is about where I go for my coffee fix.

It's also about some of the people that I've met at my favorite coffee house in Vero Beach, Florida. There is nothing unusual about this spot, believe me, I should know, as I've been in a lot of them. I have been going to this particular one for approximately three years. I like to time my arrival to about 7:00 AM in the morning so that when the local supermarket opens I can purchase a copy of the New York Times. Carrying the Times, I make my way over to Dunkin Donuts where I can order my coffee and quietly read my newspaper without the usual daily disturbances. There are a group of early risers that also like to do the same.

While I like the coffee, I always feel guilty if that is all I order, so I generally get a French cruller as well. This donut, I've calculated, compared to all the rest, must be the one with the least calories, although, if you arrive at just the right time, you do have trouble keeping it on the tray as a result of all of the oil dripping off of it.

One might think that there would be no line this early in the morning. However, there usually is, and generally they have three people behind the counter. All of them know me by now. Not by name but by sight and they know what I have ordered for the last three years as well. Consequently, while I do wait on line, my money is out and I pick up the coffee & donut generally without speaking a word. This works well for me in the morning as I'm not much of a conversationalist and am usually not wide awake. It does however raise the eyebrows of the other people on line as they think I must be related to the owner or dating his daughter or any number of other things.

The women working behind the counter are truly a dynamic bunch. Able to effortlessly handle long lines of customers, while dealing also with irate customers, and all the while remembering what those customers have ordered in the past. I nod to one of the women who knows me and ask her about her latest "poker" run. She rides her own motorcycle and has been to all of the major gatherings from Daytona to Sturgis. She must have a financial background also, as, she is able to make change far faster then any other person I know.

The other women is also a dynamo behind the counter while the third woman always insists on giving me sugar with my decaf. She must think it's healthy.

This early in the morning there are certain protocols that are followed by all the regulars. No discussion of religion and or politics is allowed, unless the other person at a table near you brings the subject up. Then nothing is sacred and I've had many interesting conversations with my fellow coffee drinkers. Most of the regulars have there own preferred seating. Sort of like a private college club in New York. I go directly to the back carrying my coffee and dripping donut, although, by now, the oil is congealing. I arrive at my table in the back, and periodically, I find myself surrounded by 3-4 of Indian River County police force's finest. I sometimes overhear their conversations, ranging from a description of grisly automobile accidents, to the " flasher" on the local beach that they have just caught and or other humorous occurrences concerning their fellow officers at their local shooting range. There is no question that the police have their own sense of gallows humor.

By and large you see the same people every day. From the older married couple who stop in after Mass, to the octenagenarian from New Hampshire who has stopped his subscription to the New York Times until they become more conservative and less liberal. One day, while my table neighbor and I were discussing President Bush and his politics, our conversation was interrupted by someone who ran over to our table and proceeded to explain the Bible's interpretation of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict while I and the other person just stared in bewilderment until he finished his diatribe and calmly walked away. He was not a regular. The other people range from retirees to doctors, to business executives and other workers all busy drinking coffee and reading their papers.

One person, always sits with his coffee right inside the door and casually checks everyone as they walk in and out. While I don't know his name, I always nod to him as I subconsciously think he may be the gatekeeper and I definitely want to be on his good side.

If any of the regulars don't show up for a few days, there is a always a collective sigh of relief from the others when they arrive again.

One improvement that I think all the coffee drinkers would like to see implemented would be a coffee line. That is to say, we could go directly to that line and not have to bother with the person who is picking up his two dozen doughnuts, ordering a mocha latte, and "breakfast", and then paying with a credit card. This would greatly speed up everything and we regulars would not have to wait in line.

While I was in line one day, the owners daughter was taking the orders and she started to pour a (regular)coffee, and I, in a loud and brusque voice said I "always have decaf"..........She immediately said "That's' what you think", at which point all of the people in line behind me started laughing. It was rather funny, seeing, as I barely can tell the difference.

This Dunkin Donuts is less of a donut place and has more of the feel of a private club where everyone need not know your name but where you still have a warm and inviting place for your early morning coffee, your newspaper and yes, even a donut. Sort of like "Cheers" with coffee.

George Connelly

772-234-0281

Georgec111@comcast.net