This is my first blog (posted on another blog on 04/25/2007) and I do not know why I chose coffee as the theme. I once heard Chondra Pierce refer to it as "Pentecostal Whiskey" (in her Tennessee accent). Chondra is a Christian Comedian - www.chonda.org. Check out her web site, or listen to one of her CD's and you will see how funny she is. I rephrased it to "Baptist Whiskey" since I am Baptist by denomination and we claim to not drink. (I'll leave the comments, jokes, questions, and put-downs to you.) I am not a coffee snob. I do like specialty coffees such as Starbucks and I like flavored coffee from time to time. But good old fashion Maxwell House regular blend coffee is the subject of this blog,
I really like coffee. I especially like it first thing in the morning when I am having my morning devotion. The caffeine helps to stimulate my brain back from the lull of the nights rest. The warmth of the dark sweet (yes I use real sugar) liquid warms my throat and my insides. The lingering of the slightly bitter coffee mingled with the sweet taste of the sugar and the ever so slight taste of the creamer (very little for me) seems to be a subtle symbolism of what the day will hold.
When I was in college my roommates did not ask me anything until I had had my first coffee. My husband and then my sons learned the "Mom's quiet time" was a synonym for "Mom's first cup of Joe" My middle name is Jo and my mom and I take our coffee pretty much the same way. As a child she made me coffee milk or "soaky" as she called it. Her mom did the same for her and we are passing it on to our niece. As "real southern men" my sons changed to ice tea for breakfast like their uncle. I guess coffee is the binder of the women in our family.
As far back as I can remember my mom has had impromptu gatherings of family women folk around the bar (not alcoholic bar - dinner bar) in her kitchen. A pot of coffee was made and some she would seek out what ever little tidbit of treat she had available to accompany it. When I was a child I would sip my coffee and listen to my aunts, cousins, or mom's friends discuss everything of significance in their lives. It was at the gatherings that I learned about faith in God, how to be a supportive friend, what proper manners were for a southern lady and what was not. Who could be trusted to do a job, keep a secret, or give good advice. I learned how to rear my children from the advice and mistakes that were discussed. I learned to appreciate the raucous cackles if a good off color joke that brought tears to our eyes from laughing so hard; and many of the recipes I cherish were copied on note cards as they talked about what they had or were preparing for the next event.
From time to time men had coffee there and listened or participated in the discussions, my dad and my husband were two of the best coffee klatch participates, but my brother has his moments as have male cousins and uncles. Funny I don't really remember their advice or comments as much as I do what the girls said. It seems in my memory that they were better listeners than talkers in these gatherings.
Sadly many of my aunts have passed on to heaven. I miss them. I miss their laughter from off color jokes, their recipes, their advice, the gossip, and the wealth of family stories they shared. Today my mom and I have coffee quite often, just the two of us. We enjoy our time together to share woman to woman about relationships, children/grandchildren, church, health issues, political events, and occasionally an off color joke that might, if the coffee is brewed just right, bring us both the glorious joyful tears.
Maybe coffee is the nectar of the goddesses and not just Baptist Whiskey.
I really like coffee. I especially like it first thing in the morning when I am having my morning devotion. The caffeine helps to stimulate my brain back from the lull of the nights rest. The warmth of the dark sweet (yes I use real sugar) liquid warms my throat and my insides. The lingering of the slightly bitter coffee mingled with the sweet taste of the sugar and the ever so slight taste of the creamer (very little for me) seems to be a subtle symbolism of what the day will hold.
When I was in college my roommates did not ask me anything until I had had my first coffee. My husband and then my sons learned the "Mom's quiet time" was a synonym for "Mom's first cup of Joe" My middle name is Jo and my mom and I take our coffee pretty much the same way. As a child she made me coffee milk or "soaky" as she called it. Her mom did the same for her and we are passing it on to our niece. As "real southern men" my sons changed to ice tea for breakfast like their uncle. I guess coffee is the binder of the women in our family.
As far back as I can remember my mom has had impromptu gatherings of family women folk around the bar (not alcoholic bar - dinner bar) in her kitchen. A pot of coffee was made and some she would seek out what ever little tidbit of treat she had available to accompany it. When I was a child I would sip my coffee and listen to my aunts, cousins, or mom's friends discuss everything of significance in their lives. It was at the gatherings that I learned about faith in God, how to be a supportive friend, what proper manners were for a southern lady and what was not. Who could be trusted to do a job, keep a secret, or give good advice. I learned how to rear my children from the advice and mistakes that were discussed. I learned to appreciate the raucous cackles if a good off color joke that brought tears to our eyes from laughing so hard; and many of the recipes I cherish were copied on note cards as they talked about what they had or were preparing for the next event.
From time to time men had coffee there and listened or participated in the discussions, my dad and my husband were two of the best coffee klatch participates, but my brother has his moments as have male cousins and uncles. Funny I don't really remember their advice or comments as much as I do what the girls said. It seems in my memory that they were better listeners than talkers in these gatherings.
Sadly many of my aunts have passed on to heaven. I miss them. I miss their laughter from off color jokes, their recipes, their advice, the gossip, and the wealth of family stories they shared. Today my mom and I have coffee quite often, just the two of us. We enjoy our time together to share woman to woman about relationships, children/grandchildren, church, health issues, political events, and occasionally an off color joke that might, if the coffee is brewed just right, bring us both the glorious joyful tears.
Maybe coffee is the nectar of the goddesses and not just Baptist Whiskey.
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