Last call

When time's a tickin'

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

It’s been a while since I’ve been at a bar for last call.

I can’t say that it was something that I did much in my early 20s, and it certainly isn’t something I’ve done much since the pandemic (save a night or two at Tramp Stamp Grannies —iykyk).

But tonight, I made it to last call...

My friend Karen and I were out to dinner after seeing an improv show, and as we were enjoying our meals, a very unassuming guy—who was not our waiter and quite frankly didn’t seem to have any business approaching our table—came and said it was last call.

This confused me as neither of us had alcohol. In fact, there was no alcohol at the establishment. It was your classic American diner whose beverage menu featured a “fizzy drink of the week” and “egg creams”, among other diner favorites.

I was sipping my decaf Americano (no decaf drip at said diner either); Karen was sipping on an Arnold Palmer. Clearly, I looked confused because he looked back at me and repeated:

“It’s last call…for espresso.”

I wasn’t planning on ordering another Americano, but something about the time limit — the need to get it in while I can — made me think maybe I should order another cup.

The absurdity of falling for the scarcity of “last call for espresso” (at a late-night diner where caffeine should be flowing as freely as tap water) got me thinking about other “last calls” I am tempted by on a daily basis:

“Melanie, time is running out on your $10 off Summersalt” (The swimsuit I put into an online shopping cart a year ago").

“Mexican Pizza is back at Taco Bell for a limited time only” (Always sold out when I go).

“Melanie, we need you donate $3 by midnight otherwise the world will end” (Every political email ever…every day.)

As someone in marketing (hair flip of importance), I know this “last chance” messaging works to get people to act. That’s why so many people use it.

The message of scarcity is, ironically, abundant.

Brené Brown writes that the opposite of scarcity isn’t abundance, it’s enough. When I first read that, it made me pause.

I had been in the midst of my career pivot and was looking for a job. I had been so focused on trying to let go of fearing scarcity and welcoming the abundance of the universe (which would reward me with the right job) that I didn’t realize that all I really wanted was to have enough.

I didn’t need all the jobs, I needed one job.

I don’t need to find an abundance of boyfriends, I want one boyfriend.

I don’t need an abundance of eggs. I would like to find one dozen eggs (that preferably are below $6).

There are broader implications about how this idea relates to our society and how inequality is created as some have access to an abundance while others cannot get close to enough, which is beyond the scope of this newsletter (that I’m writing at 10:40 PM on a Friday night so I also don’t really have the brain space to eloquently muse on this topic). Nor is it something I can tackle on my own, despite my desire to try.

For my purposes, this “last call” made me think about the way I relate to this message. In a lot of respects, I respond to a “last call” messaging because I don’t want to miss out—FOMO is a big thing for me. Or it was, but that’s also something I’m working through.

Something as innocuous as “missing out” on getting another cup of coffee isn’t really a big deal — and I wasn’t really missing out — but faced with larger “last chances”, how will I respond?

Will I act out of fear — maybe buying or doing something I don’t really want to for the fear of missing an opportunity?

Or…

Will I take a beat and think about it?

I didn’t end up ordering another Americano. It wasn’t worth it (especially not without free refills).

But one Americano was perfectly enough.

Ten Things This Week

1. I am very much considering a Summersalt swimsuit (as I think my swimsuits are still from the Obama administration).

2. I love Brené. My favorite book of hers is Rising Strong, though I recommend you start with Daring Greatly.

3. Similarly, You Are A Badass taught me a lot about combatting a scarcity mindset in my own life.

4. I also really love You Are A Badass At Making Money for some kick-ass money mindset resetting.

5. Recently, I’ve been reading a bit about “JOMO” or the “Joy of Missing Out”. It’s a good reminder to slow down and be with myself a bit.

6. Speaking of slowing down and being with myself, I picked up my cross-stitching again. This is my current endeavor.

7. Unrelated to any of the above, Best in Show is a great movie.

8. As is Waiting for Guffman.

9. In fact, just watch all of Christopher Guest’s movies.

10. We’ll be talking about at least one Christopher Guest movie on Best Line/Worst Line very soon. For now, check out our thoughts on the Disney Channel Original Movie “Double Teamed” in the episode that dropped today.

That’s it for this very late edition of the newsletter. See ya next week!

— Melanie