Love and Coffee

I realized that much I’ve learned about love,

I’ve learned in the presence of coffee.

I’ve just returned from being invited out for coffee,

partially because it was the seasonal special

with chocolate, caramel and Irish crème
but mostly because I needed space from my home

and needed to talk and my friend recognized that

and getting coffee became the perfect excuse.

The first time I was in a Starbucks

was because my father–in-law invited me and my infant son out for coffee. All I remember is enjoying for the first time a Carmel frappacino and sitting still in the comfortable chairs for the time it took to drink our Venti drinks. Since I was sleep deprived and in that general insaneness and giant learning curve that accompanies your first child, going out for coffee was like heaven.

One year I was given 3 coffee gift cards for Christmas.

I received specially blended coffee combinations

in plastic cones adorned with ribbons and silk roses

for Valentine’s Day.

I brought back 100% Kona coffee

when I visited the islands last year

and hope that the favor will be returned

by another who is visiting the tropics.

Our Bible Study group, aptly named Coffee Break, has a coffee bar called Love You A Latte in which we’ve gotten everyone addicted to whipped cream on their monthly specialty coffee and where we exchange hugs for coffee benefiting both the server and the “customer”.

See, it’s all about coffee!

I’m so sorry if you are not a coffee drinker.

It may be harder for you to learn about love.

Because I’ve found that in the drinking

and the giving and receiving of coffee
I have both demonstrated and have been the recipient

of expressions of love.

And gotten a caffeine boost to boot!