The first time I went here, I was in middle school. I went with my best friend and her mother and her mother's best friend.
(My best friend's name was also the same as my mother's. This isn't critical to the memory, but I think it adds something to the story.) Anyway.
While here, my best friend's mother told me she didn't believe in astrology; however, all scorpios were exactly the same, she said. I was interested in astrology the same way I was interested in astronomy: distantly. But I liked the idea that the person you would marry was written in the stars with you. And I liked the idea that the stars were far, far away from me.
What I'm saying is: I was certain that I would marry Niall Horan in due time. I was only twelve years old. Give a girl space to grow.
My mom would always suggest going to Black Walnut, but I went to middle school in the opposite direction, and we rarely drove past it.
Thankfully, I went to high school in the opposite direction, passing by Black Walnut every day.
I went to this Black Walnut when I was a senior in high school and interviewing for Georgetown University. I instantly liked my interviewer, and she really liked me. We sat in the same booth I sat in all of those years ago in middle school, when my best friend's mom taught me about scorpios. I took this as a very, very good sign.
My interviewer bought me a bottled water and said that wherever I ended up, she was sure I would be very successful. I was so happy to email her a few months later, letting her know I was accepted.
Whenever I go to the Black Walnut now, I point out this booth and say, "That's where I had my Georgetown interview!" and fondly think of my kindly interviewer. The last time we corresponded was when I told her that I would be attending a different school, and she told me she was very happy for me and sorry for Georgetown. I think I should check in with her. I really hope she's doing well.
When the pandemic started, I was sophomore in college. I moved back to Houston and continued my studies online. When it was safe to go to restaurants, my dad and I would go to Black Walnut and work on our multi million dollar script. It's an incredible script, and we wrote some of it in the big chairs at the front of the Black Walnut. (If you know anyone who will buy it for multiple millions of dollars, please message me.)
I forgot to mention that I went to Black Walnut the day before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. My mom and I picked up desserts to eat while we watched the royal wedding the next day. My dad and brothers were in the backyard while we watched, and he ended up nearly breaking his leg while cutting a tree branch. When we helped him into the car to get his X-rays, I remember thinking, "I just wanted to eat my Black Walnut cake and watch the royal wedding..."
In 2021, I was still in online classes. Black Walnut had a contest for free coffee for one year if you posted a picture of you enjoying Black Walnut coffee. Easy. I entered it. I won free coffee for one year.
My dad would use my refillable Black Walnut mug on the way to work and got a free cup of coffee most mornings. This was the best win: something my family could enjoy, too.
Then, the Texas February freeze happened in 2021, and we were displaced from our house for about six months. The week we moved back (and were closer to Black Walnut again), I finally returned to my campus in New York City.
When I'd visit Houston, though, I'd take my brothers to lunch at Black Walnut and point out my Georgetown booth. As we'd walk inside, I'd say--as if I could not help but say it-- "I just really love this place." I am a sentimental person, but I don't think it's only my nature that makes me this way. There's just so much beautiful content at Black Walnut. I've found three pennies here. That means something to me.
A few weeks ago, I went with my mom and my boyfriend to see a show at STAGES Theatre. After, I didn't want the night to end and requested coffee and dessert. My mother suggested Black Walnut. She is always so smart.
Before my boyfriend opened the door for me, I prefaced our entrance with, "I can't put my finger on it, but I really love this place. Not necessarily other Black Walnuts. Just this one."
Upon walking inside, he realized he had an interview here when he was applying to colleges. He pulled up his email and checked his inbox for the message from December 2017, confirming the location of his interview. Considering that he lived in a suburb outside of town when he was in high school, this is very impressive to me. "Of all the Black Walnuts, it had to be the one on Memorial Drive..."
I was so happy to sit with my mom and boyfriend and watch them talk in our booth. In between sentences, I texted that best friend from middle school about Liam Payne's passing. We were both saddened. Liam was her favorite One Direction member then. Without getting too absorbed in my texts, I returned to the conversation with my mom and boyfriend.
When we left Black Walnut, my mom and I tried to remember the businesses that used to be its neighbors. I could hardly remember whether the old T-Mobile store was to its right or left five years ago.
I feel older, in a very good way. I love this Black Walnut Cafe.
And I love you! Three pennies! haha! -Robert