Three Cups of Tea

Tonight I devote my blog to the social phenomenon of coffee and tea drinking. Both are truly addictions. Cafes provide open community meeting space. For the most part, gone are the days when community was formed in the streets as kids played games. It's absolutely fascinating to observe how people combat the loneliness and lack of human contact technology creates. Local cafes are now my 2nd office. Honestly, if you're in the people business, why not go where the people are?

Where have my 3 cups taken me today?

Cup #1 delivered calming comfort and fidget prevention during my meeting with Paul today. It's nice to have something to keep my hands busy and taking a drink always gives you a chance to think questions over before answering. I suspect this is why offices are outfitted with coffee and everyone is always encouraging you to "have something to drink." It's a buffer for awkwardness and slow/delayed brain processing.

Cup #2 was a delightfully refreshing Iced Pomegranate Red Tea. That cup helped me get a start on the evaluation and to reconfigure my taxes after having completely skipped a worksheet which increased my federal refund by about $5. When I redid the state taxes the $5 was taken back. Easy come, easy go. Coffee and tea provide motivation and energy for finishing projects. That cup also allowed me to overhear the story of a woman sitting nearby as she told her friend about working through an abusive relationship with her previous husband. I'm continually amazed at the conversations people will have in a cafe. Such a public piece of property is magically transformed into a personal, private confessional where people feel open to speak about whatever is on their mind. All this is done with a couple cups of coffee and/or tea. Humans are excessively creative in how they create personal space in a public area.

I'm on cup #3 at the moment. This one is Ginger Peach Black Tea. It's also pouring outside so I'm trying to make this lukewarm cup last as long as possible in the hopes that I will not be drenched on my way to the car. This cup is helping me work through my 6 mo. evaluation that probably should have been sent in about a month ago. My excuse is that Easter got in the way. In-between creative responses to poorly worded questions I am compiling two new playlists: one for the car ride when I leave WA and one to leave with Paul and all the people I love at Trinity. Hopefully when they hear those songs they'll think fondly of me. The playlist is by far the more important task compared to the evaluation. This cup has afforded me the opportunity to connect with the young girl who sold me the cup of tea. She ventured outside in the pouring rain to take down the umbrellas on the outdoor tables. As she pulled the catch out of the first one, water doused her. When she asked if I was laughing at her I said through the glass "You're very brave!" A brief connection that will probably not be remembered by either of us in the near future, but a moment of time to feel slightly less disconnected and isolated on this Earth.

Where could 3 cups of coffee/tea take you?