MOM. Again. [Coffee]

It's ten-years, well more than 10-years since her last breath and still she's in my mind, and in my dreams – literally.

I make a cup of coffee and I am reminded of some deflationary comment she made.  Here's the story, as I like to repeat stories (apparently).  RIP – where and when and HOW???

I don't exactly remember the year, but it was before 2014 – or possibly the beginning of it (the worst year in my life to date).  I was in the car with my Mom and her sister, Aunt Jo (also deceased now).  They were chatting away as they always have – completely eliminating me from their conversations.  So I sat in the back of the car (Mom was driving) wondering what I could chip-in to the/their conversation, when I remembered ONE thing that was new and 'exciting' in my life: a NEW coffee!  

Now, this sounds menial, and it is, but that is the point.  There IS NOTHING in my life and being introduced to something new and exotic WAS a big deal to my mundane existence.

It all started on New Year's Day.  My 'best' friend, Eric invited me to come to Louisville to spend the day with him and his (parents, brother, friends) [I 'quote' best because later in life he tells me he "doesn't believe in best friends" - shocking since that's what I thought we were! Oh well.]

Eric is very good at finding unique restaurants and introducing me to new cuisines.  Today it's Vietnamese.  I'd never been to a Vietnamese restaurant, and so the adventure begins!

They bring out a coffee for his dad.  "Hmm.  Interesting.  I've never seen a coffee pot like this one before.  Can I have a sip?"  IT'S DELICIOUS.  Sweet, warm, rich ... I HAVE TO HAVE THIS.  I asked the waitress if she could write it down for me knowing I'd never be able to spell it and therefore never be able to hunt it down.  "Trung Nguyen".  See?

My hunt begins.  

First it's the Asian markets of Louisville.
Then it's the internet.

Lucky me, I find a site that literally sells ONLY Vietnamese coffee.  

I order exactly what the lady wrote down for me.  Culi Robusta #1.

Now my mornings are delicious, and exotic and EXCITING!!!

NOW I have something to contribute to my Mom and Aunt's conversation!

So I interject --- "I have something EXCITING to share ... I found a NEW coffee!!! (you know they didn't ASK me, 'and what about you, Nancy?' - 'cause they DIDN'T.) 

My balloon is now fully inflated!  Yippee.  I can share my new discovery and the work I put into getting this exotic flavor into my daily life!

Mom's response?

Was it "Wow, that sounds delicious, would you make me some?"

[INSERT BOISTEROUS LAUGHTER OF SARCASM HERE]

Of course not.

She said in her most dead voice way: "All coffee tastes the same."

End of sentence.

End of discussion.

No after questions.

No inquiry.

Just get the needle out and punch the air out of Nancy's balloon.  

Deflation complete.

It wasn't even, "All coffee tastes the same – TO ME."

Just a blanket statement covering ALL coffee EVERYWHERE.

Nothing more to add.

Conversation finished.


Fast forward over a decade later, I'm still drinking my exotic coffee.  In Mom's cup.

And every day when I make a pot, I think of her --- and her deflationary comment.

Sad.