A Good Cup in Hand

There are things that we hold dear in our lives that have special meaning. A photograph, a special album, maybe an article of clothing or a piece of furniture. I still have many photographs that I occasionally look through, smiling from the memories that come flooding over me. I don't have but a handful of albums (LP's) now, and none really hold any great significance to me, though I have a few CD's that have taken the place of those attachments that a few albums from way back when once held. And clothing? Well, my wife has long since gotten rid of those. And the only piece of furniture I had - picked up from the side of the road on the way out of town on a road trip with two dear friends after I had graduated from high school - was returned to the side of the road in the winter of 2003 when it finally fell apart and could no longer be repaired. But there is one item that has held a special place in my heart for many, many years. It is a large coffee mug - well, for me, a tea mug.

I purchased this mug when I started my sophomore year in college. I had lived at home my freshman year and decided to move on campus my sophomore year. There wasn't much need to go out and purchase any furniture for the dorm room because it was pretty much furnished: bunk beds, two dressers, two desks with book shelves, and two closets. My roommate was Kurt Brown. We had known each other since I first moved to Greece, New York in 1969 (I think that was the year). We quickly became best friends, and remain so to this day.

Anyway, we only needed to bring our clothes, stuff to plaster on the walls (we did - Rolling Stone covers), a couple of lights, and some miscellaneous dishes and silverware. I purchased a tea mug. It was dark brown with light brown around the top lip of the cup. It felt good in the hand, solid, held just the right amount of hot beverage, and it kept it warm for a long while. I would often wrap it up and take it on camping trips, even a canoe trip or two. That mug was a part of many conversations over the years. It brought comfort to me through some tough times and had a way of adding a sense of pleasure to times of laughter and joy with friends and family.

Yesterday my mug decided it had served its usefulness and ended its life. I was there when it jumped off the edge of the counter into the sink. My screams of "no" were unheeded.

This morning I got up to have a cup of hot tea. I opened up the cupboard and then remembered. I paused for a few moments, lifted up my hand as if I were holding the mug, and offered thanks to the mug and to God for the many years my cup and I had spent together, in conversation, in prayer, in silence. Then I closed the cupboard door, got dressed, and left for the office. I couldn't bring myself to have a cup of tea without my companion.

So long, my hot beverage companion. Thank you for your many years of service, kindness, and warmth. May you now be ever filled!