Emma Beddington embraces being known as a predictable regular at the café

During a month-long trip in Venice, Emma Beddington frequently visited the same cafe, which was familiar from her previous trip. The cafe was filled with various patrons, including locals and tourists, but despite her repeated visits, she did not feel recognized by the staff due to the high volume of visitors. This experience prompted her to reflect on her feelings about being a regular somewhere back home, where she historically had mixed feelings about social interactions with staff and other patrons. The mere thought of being acknowledged by cafe staff filled her with a sense of obligation, leading her to often take a step back from familiarity in social settings. After experiencing this in Venice, Emma noted the shift in her perspective as she returned to her hometown where everyone knew her. Living in a smaller community meant everyone recognized her, leading to more frequent connections with cafe staff and a sense of belonging. Emma acknowledged the bittersweet nature of being known where every corner brought a possible connection, contrasting it against the anonymity of city life where weak ties were preferred. The comfort of familiar connections began to feel more appealing to her. Despite an encounter on her birthday where she attempted to connect with the staff through a light-hearted remark, the staff continued their routine of discussing only coffee and payment. This moment further underscored her outsider status in Venice. She began to appreciate the nuances of being recognized by staff back home and what it meant to have tailored social interactions. Even though she felt a lack of familiarity in Venice, it contrasted starkly against her experiences back home where connections were inevitable. Ultimately, as Emma observed the changes in social dynamics and her feelings towards them in different locations, she reflected on the casual relationships formed in place of deeper community ties. She acknowledged the potential discomfort of serendipitous social encounters in bigger cities and the comfort of regular interactions in familiar settings. Moving back to her home town led her to embrace the joy that comes from being a regular, even if it meant grappling with mixed feelings about those social obligations.