Coffee brings warmth and comfort to my life. Part ritual, part relationship, part hope, having a cup in my hand feels as natural as holding a pencil. It stirs up memories and gratitude inside me.

—Nicole Johnson

Okay, I've written about coffee in my old blog "Coffee Cup in Hand".  So it's not a new subject; but one dear to my heart.

I know a lot of people don't like coffee or think it's bad for you; but not me.  My grandfather, who was the ultimate coffee drinker, started me on the stuff as a toddler.  Of course it was doctored with lots of sugar and cream.  Back then it was pure cream straight from the cow.  Can only dream about that today.

Let me explain my granddad's coffee.  First he used chicory coffee, which is an acquired taste.  I assume he started during the war when coffee was rationed.  I find I'm not as fond of it today as I was as a kid.  He used an old aluminum drip pot usually fixing that first drip around 4 in the morning.  He'd drink a cup, maybe two, before heading for the garden each morning.  Grannie would get up around 5 or so and she would heat it back up on the stove.  Got a little stronger then.  When I got up, which I can truthfully say I have no idea when, it was reheated for the third time.  Now it could just about walk.  That's when Grandad came back in; washed up and we had breakfast.  Nice memories.

I never stopped drinking coffee.  It is an essential part of my life.  Summers I drink less, but winter it becomes an all day thing.  But I drink it black and have for quite a few years.  Once in a while, I'll have a flavored coffee; but they are not my favorite.  But offer me an Irish coffee with Tullamore Dew and I'm in hog heaven.

My mother was a big coffee drinker; Dad only having a cup in the morning and another about mid afternoon.  He only had that one because Mother always made it and gave it to him.

Coffee to me is a part of my life.  It brings memories and odd thoughts whenever I think about it.  Sitting on the back porch sharing the morning and a cup with Grandad being one of my favorites.  Sitting in the front porch swing enjoying a mid afternoon cup with him and whoever had stopped by for a chat.  Softer, sweeter, easier times for sure.