Of Coffee, Time and Family

"We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. Trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out."

— (Unknown) —

The first thing mom does whenever we go for a visit is prepare hot water for milk and coffee. They drink milk and we don't so she keeps coffee in sachets in their cupboard. And when everything's ready, each one would do his/her own cup and mom would bring out whatever she has, usually bakery bread or at times, sweet potato fries that she did herself with sweet syrup (she's got a sweet tooth), and then we would catch up of what has been happening.

A street art captured in December 2021 in another town

We talk about many things from mundane to serious ones, or the kids (my brother's 2 girls) who seem to be growing up really fast.

There had been times when we would spend hours in front of our empty cups and tears would flow when we touch something sad or get nostalgic of things past, or we would blast off with some really loud laughter that we end up wiping our noses because they get runny, and then holding our tummies because they hurt so much from laughing hard. Some of us would even roll on the sofa because we just can't hold our laughter any longer and we had to cough it out, LoL!

At times we lose track of time until someone says he/she is feeling hungry and mom would realize she has not made dinner and we'd all get our hands into making some. We then eat and have more chitchat afterwards until it's late and time to get to bed or get going.

Hmmmm... My mind traveled a bit this morning when I found the above 2 sachets of the mangosteen-guyabano coffee hidden underneath a pack of brown sugar in my lil pantry. I got these from mom on our most recent visit a few weeks ago.

At that time I noticed mom has gotten a few more lines on her forehead and she looks a bit frail too, so my 11-year-old niece took the role of boiling water for milk and coffee.

"Time passes by quickly, yeah?" my mind was having a bit of a conversation on its own as I gazed at my 2 nieces who once loved sitting on my lap back when we were in the family compound. Seeing them growing taller each visit is a glaring fact that I am not getting any younger at all in age and oh well, physically too, not that I didn't want to. But I am quite happy because someone said, "Wisdom comes with age," so I'd like to think that I am gaining more wisdom too through the years...

Snap! Snap! LOL!

Anyway, those little coffee-milk-family time spent over the years coupled with tears and laughter are some of my priceless possessions to this very day and for the years to come. Reflecting on this actually got me to my feet, calling my mom for those gentlest and sweetest words I so love hearing, "Hello, 'nak ko, kumusta?" (Hello, my daughter, how are you?) at the other end of the line.

This was my first cup early in the day and I am very sure that before I hit the publish button on this post, I may have had two already, or three even... A hot cup of coffee keeps me warm and comfy in cold days like today especially when I'm having a bit of melancholy or as a friend puts it, feeling Saudade.

And thought this might be a way of tipping myself over and letting something beautiful out... I'll probably just continue to ponder.

But before that, let me say, cheers to everyone who gets a bit of everything from their mug, cup, glass or whatever you call yours.

To more joyful times and yes, coffee too!

Thank you and may we all have a wonderful weekend!

(All photos are my own. 29.01.22/13:00PH)

FarmGirl writes from their lil kingdom in the mountains of PH.
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