It is always interesting to hear people talk about the role coffee has played in their lives. In our generation and older generations, you’ll hear sto-
ries about how coffee corresponds to a
fond memory of a parent, grandparent,
aunt or uncle fixing and enjoying it in a
special way. If they happened to fix that
special coffee just for us, it was a grown-
up feeling to get to indulge in what the
adults drank. My husband’s Great Aunt
Lizzie was a key person in his life when
he was young. He has a very special place
in his heart for her. One of Rich’s fond-
est memories was when she would take
a little coffee, and add milk and a good
amount of sugar to create a drink that re-
mains with him to this day. Our daughter
does her best each weekend to create a
“re-memory” drink just for her dad. My
Aunt Irene has always loved black cof-
fee. She remembers living in the wilds
of Idaho with her sister and her parents.
Hot coffee was a staple that they enjoyed
as they cleared land in the early morn-
ing cold. She remembers drinking a little
of the dark black brew and savoring the
warmth and the taste.
I remember the sound of a new vac-
uum packed canister being opened in
our kitchen and the beautiful aroma
that wafted from it. I didn’t particularly
like the taste of coffee then; however, I
liked the smell. My dad and mom had
a cup each morning with just a little
milk or half & half added to make it a
light tan color. It was a fun job for me
to make the coffee and try to get just the
right shade for my parents. I never re-
ally liked to drink coffee until my early
20s when my friend took me to a coffee
house and suggested I try an iced coffee.
Yuck—cold coffee . . . who would want
to drink cold coffee?! Well, that cold
coffee was mixed with the right combi-
nation of sugar, chocolate and milk, and
wow, was it delicious!
I have a double standard with coffee. I
only drink it black when I have dessert.
That black coffee balances out the sweet-
ness or chocolate that would otherwise
be too rich. However if I go out to buy a
cup of coffee alone, I’ll head for a white
mocha or a flavored latte. The warmth
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
by Heather Mader
Coffee &
Memories
Coffee is a link to our past. The memories tied
to it are priceless, and the taste delicious—that’s
what keeps us coming back for more.
