The Coffee Clatch...

"Good Communication is as stimulating as black coffee..."

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh~

This morning I indulged in a rare for me treat, a steaming cup of Hazelnut Belgian Cafe Coffee with a dollop of whipped cream. YUM! I sat on the sofa underneath and soft fleece throw with steaming mug in hand, inhaling the fragrance and savoring the nutty warm flavor. My sidekick, Sophie, was curled at my feet. Settling my laptop I clicked it on and went to enjoy a morning cup of brew with some of the gals in the neighborhood.
(Photo Source)
This mornings little visit reminded me of my mother and the women in our neighborhood when I was growing up. We lived in a cul-de-sac with fourteen houses situated around its key like shape. I lived in number 10 on the center left side of the circle. Many of the women would gather on Saturday mornings after their weekly hair appointments at the beauty shop for what they called the Coffee Clatch. Hair having been teased and curled to perfection in that latest bouffant style, nails manicure, sporting stretch knit carpi pants with matching sweater sets and loafers the ladies would be styled to perfection for their weekly meeting. Thinking back, these women could have been the much tamer version of the ladies of Wisteria Lane. I have never actually seen the show but I get the gist from the hype of it all and trust me, there was drama in our neighborhood.(Photo Source)
Some of the ladies would arrive carrying plates of homemade goods to be consumed with the coffee. Some even brought along their favorite mug. The hostess would fill the peculator full of Folgers, set out creamer, and sugar cubes, no fancy flavors back in the day! Kitchens were the meeting place, ladies pulling chairs from the formal dining rooms for extra seating. Conversation came alive with the flavor of love, life, and neighborhood happenings, mixed with bursts of laughter. I remember well many such gatherings. (Photo Source)
This got me to thinking about my modern day version of the Coffee Clatch. How different is to sit with cup in hand and virtually visit those in the blog neighborhood. I still see the same topics of discussion on love, life, and neighborhood happenings and am often filled with laughter over some of the posts. My Coffee Clatch is on a broader scale and even though it is not face to face interaction it has the same feel. This morning I visited with neighbors in Georgia, Maine, France, Ohio, California, Texas, and Canada! Each brought their favorite cup of sharing, pouring out fragrant offerings of homemade goodness. The topics of conversation were wide a varied from grief, to decorating, to recipes, art, and children. Even though I sat alone, I still had that Coffee Clatch feeling of connecting with my neighbors and sharing their lives. I could hear each distinct voice in their writing, receive their message, and share their delights and pains. Pretty amazing huh?(Photo Source)
I just wanted to say thank you to those who take time out of your full and busy lives to stop over for a visit. Thank you for sharing your hearts and talents and for letting me experience a broader sense of neighborhood. Thank you for the shared love and laughter as well as for filling my cup daily with goodness! Blessings to you all! Oh, and I love that you can't really see me now, sitting here with my wild morning hair, no make up, and clad in my jammies!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy