Students fill the tabletops with mugs of coffee and notebooks while many local business owners pore through a newspaper or conduct interviews in the open space outside.
Just as the smell of freshly ground coffee beans is an integral part of Highland Coffees, so is Maryland Batiste, who can most often be found in an armchair beside the front door swaying beneath his headphones.
Batiste has been a Highland regular since 1992.
“I spend all day here because this is my home away from home,” Batiste said, rocking slightly back and forth with a soft grin. “It’s got atmosphere, good people.”
Anyone who spends time at Highland Coffees knows Batiste. He grew up the second to youngest in a family of eight boys and eight girls in Lettsworth, LA, which boasts a population of 200.
Batiste is obviously different in the way he looks, speaks, moves. However, the most unique thing about him is his stubborn, indiscriminate kindness.
“I try to be nice all the time, and it’s easy here because I feel connected with everybody,” he said.
Clarke Cadzow, Highland Coffees owner, agreed Batiste can make friends with anyone he meets.
“It’s interesting, the people he seems to connect with, and unpredictable,” Cadzow said. “He makes friends with all types of people of all ages. I think people are moved by his positive nature.”
That positive nature draws people in, Cadzow said.
“People just lik to see him,” Cadzow said. “They like to interact with him. He’ll either slap you five or give you a hug, sometimes talk about a little bit more, but I think it’s just that friendly face that people respond to.”
Cadzow has been friends with Batiste since he started coming around the coffee spot over 20 years ago.
“He’s like family to me,” Batiste said as Cadzow walked past to take a call.
Batiste considers all the Highland baristas to be his family as well as the workers at Barcadia where Batiste plays skeeball and Pac-Man.
John Price, who used to own a bicycle shop on Nicholson, is one man who enthusiastically returns the sentiment.
“Because of the restrictions that society has placed on him, I have strived to help him and do things for him that a lot of people have not,” said Price, added, however, that he’s not going out of his way to help out. For Price, Batiste deserves every bit of compassion others have given him.
“He has shown me that a human being is a human being regardless of their station in life or their financial or socioeconomic station,” Price said.
Price and Batiste even attend high-end musical events together, which Price said brings forth the social butterfly in Batiste even further.
“He’s one of the most socially adept human beings I’ve ever known,” Price said. “It’s remarkable how he can mold himself into a social situation and fit and flourish.”
Part of this, Price said, is due to the fact that Batiste is both self-aware and compassionate.
“Maryland does not feel any kind of shame or social awkwardness in virtually any situation. He understands that he is a human being who is righteously made and who, almost by default, is allowed to be involved in anything he wants to be involved in.”
It is through a mutual sense of compassion these two friends have built such a strong relationship, and Price has helped Batiste more than he is willing to admit.
Batiste lifted his hands up to show they were trembling.
“When my sugar gets too low and I get to shaking like this, John’d put honey on a spoon for me. I’d eat that and my sugar’d stop acting up,” Batiste said, looking sideways, still swaying back and forth.
This shaking is only a symptom of a bigger problem. Unfortunately, Batiste deals with a serious health condition.
“I got hepatitis from my daddy ‘cause he had it,” Batiste stated. He then quickly regained his positivity. “But the doctors said as long as I’m treating it and keep taking my medicine and keep going to my doctor’s visits, he said I’ll be alright. So that’s what I’ve been doing.”
Batiste hasn’t had it easy, which makes his outlook all the more inspiring.
Price said his mere existence merits compassion, adding that the way Batiste lives and views the world is a valuable life lesson.
“Most people in life move about with a lot of social barriers,” said Price. “Maryland doesn’t involve himself there. He simply exists on a plane of oneness with other human beings.”
Just as he connects with the people around him, Batiste is also deeply attached to music. He listens to almost anything but has a few favorites.
“My favorite artist is Michael Jackson, and my other favorite is Gladys Knight,” Batiste said. He began snapping his fingers. “‘Heard it through the grapevine’! That’s one of the best songs ever made.”
Cadzow said Batiste has built up an impressive comprehensive knowledge of music.
“The guy is a music encyclopedia,” Cadzow said. “It’s rare that I stump him, and I try. He’s got a few weaknesses, like Led Zeppelin he doesn’t know too well. There’s a few bands like that, I like to sort of stump him, but it’s amazing how much he knows about music.”
Lydia Bayes, a barista at Highland Coffees, added that Batiste uses his love of music as a way to spread joy among the workers.
“He usually stays after close to make sure we’re safe and waits until we go to our cars to leave,” Bayes said. “He puts a playlist on his laptop and lets us listen to his music while we close.”
Though he’s considered a musical connoisseur, Batiste doesn’t have as much pride in his choice of TV shows.
“Forgive me for saying it,” Batiste laughed, slouching his shoulders. “I know mostly women watch this, but I love ‘Days of Our Lives.’”
Highland Coffees offers a place for Batiste to relax and make friends, but Batiste always seems happy to return the favor.
“He likes to keep an eye out for Highland Coffees,” Cadzow said. “I’ll see him bussing tables sometimes. Sometimes he’ll help with other tasks around here. He likes to be, and wants to be, useful.”
We could all benefit from what Batiste has to teach.
“I like the way I dress, I like the way I carry myself. It makes me happy just getting up in the morning and thanking God that I’m still here,” Batiste said. “That makes me happiest ‘cause I’m happy every day.”
If you get a chance to speak to Maryland Batiste, whether at Highland Coffees or Barcadia or anywhere else, do. You’ll be better for it.
Oh, and speaking of Highland Coffees, a regular named Maryland Batiste recommends the cream soda and chocolate chip muffins.