If We Were Having Coffee On This December Morning…

/ Ally Bean

THE SETTING:  

Screen Shot 2015-12-10 at 8.49.28 AM

We’d be sitting in my dining room, marveling about how warm December is this year, wearing clothes in colors & styles that scream early autumn more than almost Christmas. 

We’d be drinking oolong black tea, steeped in my blue teapot, served with milk and sugar, because while coffee is wonderful, occasionally everyone needs a cup of tea [and sympathy].

We’d be listening to an old Eric Clapton CD that I found in the glove box of Zen-Den’s SUV.  Why?  Because it’s Christmastime and Clapton is God. 😉

THE CONVERSATION:

√  We’d be chatting… about how this week, for the first time, at Susie Lindau‘s urging I watched Elf.  Or more accurately, I watched the first half of Elf and decided that while the story is cute, there’s too much Will Ferrell in it for my taste.  It’s not for me, but all of you other wackos people enjoy it.  Please.

√  We’d be sharing… our latest accomplishments.  I’d be saying that I’ve been sober for three months now.  Considering how I started down this road by accident, I’m finding the experience enlightening.  I’m not missing cocktails or wine AT ALL, although I wouldn’t mind a beer every so often.  And maybe a shot of bourbon once in a great while.  But overall I’ve come to realize that at this point in my life I don’t care about alcohol all that much.  Who knew?

√  We’d be talking… about how Jon Stewart’s various appearances this week on late night TV [here and here] have brought attention to Congress’s indifference to extending the Zadroga Act, which, if reauthorized next week, will continue to give financial help to the 9/11 first responders.  I’d mention that given my druthers I’d vote for Stewart for president because… SMART + HONEST– not to mention looking good with that graying beard.  

√  We’d be discussing… whether this year we’ll be making a list of specific New Year’s Resolutions OR if we’ll go with a more general one word approach to self-improvement.  Having tried both ways in the past, I’d tell you that, as an English major, my best successes have come from adopting one word as my theme for the year, thereby avoiding all ways to quantify my life– which for me only leads to defeat & despair.  Keep it simple, keep it going, I say.

THE CONCLUSION:

We’d finish driScreen Shot 2015-12-10 at 9.08.58 AMnking our tea, notice the time, and realize that we both needed to get to certain stores on the other side of town before noon.  So with a sigh that comes from being a responsible adult, we’d each get in our cars and go our own way.  

But before we parted we’d hug and thank each other for the best gift there is, the gift of sincere undivided attention & conversation.  Given to those people who make your heart happy and your life full.  Like friends, followers, family & fans.  In real life– and in the blogosphere, too.

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Idea for this post came from Diana at Part-Time Monster.

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[Make your own plaids, checks &/or stripes, in any color combination, like those featured above, by using Patternizer. It’s free. It’s fun.]

41 thoughts on “If We Were Having Coffee On This December Morning…”

  2. Hahahahaha! I feel the same way about Vince Vaughn. My daughter and sister didn’t like it. After seeing it a few times, Courtney likes it, but my sister still rolls her eyes.
    Thanks so much for the shout! Have a fabulous weekend. I’ll be dreaming about that tea….

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  4. The gift of undivided attention–it’s becoming more rare indeed. A reminder we all need.

    I’m not much of a Will Ferrell fan either, but I thought Elf was cute. Not my fav Christmas movie though.

    Off to bake some cookies!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Ally, it’s so nice to find someone offering the same type of drink as I am… I am not joining coffee shares at the moment due to the advent calendar on my blog, else I might have proposed an oolong or a puh er today.
    I have been invited to do a guest post about my new year’s resolutions, I think I have the right to share 3. I have come to realise that I rarely do new year’s resolutions. I remember one that I did for 2007, because it was a long list of things to check off, and one was get into college… 🙂
    Have a great weekend! It seems as though we have similar weather…

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    • Solveig, tea is good for the soul. I love coffee, but some days I’m all about tea.

      The whole NY Resolutions Or One Word Debate has been going on forever in the blogosphere! I only brought it up because I’ve decided that I’m a one word girl. Probably more of a reflection on my ability to keep things straight rather than any actual reasoning behind choosing that path.

      Will look forward to reading your resolutions when the day comes. In the meantime, happy end of autumn with the weird weather. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. I’ll share my coffee with you Ms. Bean, as while I enjoy a nice cup of tea I’m in the mood for coffee. Though with this weather I could almost drink iced coffee. It was 72° here yesterday. There’s a front coming through, bringing rain and cooler temperatures but still a far cry from snow and ice. I like it, I want to keep it.

    We have more in common again. I made it all the way through Elf but I just don’t understand the appeal. Someone recently ranked Christmas movies and the Santa Claus was #20 and Elf, as I recall was #2. I disagreed with nearly all their rankings.

    Congratulations on your three month experiment. Where do you go from here?

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    • Zazamataz, this weather is goofy. We’re to get to 70°F today, but I refuse to dig out my shorts which I packed away about a month ago. With the skies so gray, I bet that it won’t feel all that warm.

      I know that people LOVE the movie Elf, but just. too. much. Will. Ferrell. I can’t imagine why it’d be #2 on any movie list! But whatever. Just don’t make me watch it again.

      Don’t know what I’m going to do next about the no drinking thing. I have no overwhelming desire to start again, but no reason not to. So, if a good beer comes along, I might indulge– or I might not. Decisive, not so much.

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  7. This weather is ridiculous. I’m next to you statewise and it doesn’t feel like December at all. I love the black tea, but I’m drinking mine iced.

    Only once a month? Aw, it’d be nice to visit with you every week! 🙂 Undivided attention and good conversation are 2 of my favorite things! ~Tara

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    • Tara, in theory I’d like to do this Weekend Coffee Share every week, but you’d get sick of me and I don’t have the time. So monthly it’ll be.

      I agree that attention, which I consider a gift, is wonderful. Combine a little chit-chat + a bit of snark, and I’m a happy bean.

      Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your iced tea!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I enjoy our visit today and share theneed to visit some stores. Congratulations on going with being sober. I am not sure a out new years resolutions. The last one I made as giving me a new outlet on life. I decided to write a review on every book I read two laters I find my selfdoing it

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  11. NYE resolutions came to mind the other day and I’ve been so busy and wrapped up in other things it was like being hit by a comet from outer space. I think next year has to be the year of at least getting a book finished. I am working on non-fiction motivational memoir. Well, at least that’s the idea. I think I need to be specific and have a check list. Multiple checklists because I really need to find a track and stick to it. Stick up a sign: “Warning goat track ahead”.

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    • roweeee, sounds to me that you’re well on your way to having your resolutions under control. I hope that you’ll be able to get going on your book, checklist or no. I’m intrigued.

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  12. Thank you for the oolong, it was delicious. Yeah, Will Ferrell, I don’t understand the appeal. For me, it’s something about watching a very tall, large, fully grown man talking in a voice that simply screams to me “I’m so stupid!” for an hour. Not entertaining. I prefer A Christmas Story for the glimpse it gives me into my parents’ childhoods. As for resolutions, I’m toying with the idea of a list of things I’m NOT going to do in 2016 instead!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Nooce, since I wrote this I’ve come to realize how many people don’t like Will Ferrell. I always thought everyone liked him, but apparently not so. I adore A Christmas Story. The humor and the characters are more my type of funny. I like your idea of a list of what not to do during 2016. You may be onto something there. Smart thinking!

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  13. It’s still awfully warm here in NOLA. I think we actually have the A.C. on.

    And I’m SO with you on Elf. I’m just not a big fan of Will Ferrell’s brand of humor, and the movie didn’t strike me as nearly as funny as it did my friends.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Oh, darn. It’s still December, but I thought it was cocktails not coffee…late again…thought I saw all of you driving the other way ….then realized you were probably all going to Carrie’s for cookies.
    Well, cookies and paying attention are the best gifts of all.
    Hope your Christmas is merry and bright ( and I am going to catch up with comments and a few blogs, then power down, too) jingle on!

    Liked by 1 person

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