Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: COFFEE BREAK / TEA BREAK (03/01/18)
-
TITLE: Togetherness | Previous Challenge Entry
By Darlene Casino
03/08/18 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Probably these are the friendliest, most endearing words one can hear. It’s a way of saying, “Let’s share some time together…let’s take a break…let’s rest awhile from our work or let’s enliven our day”.
I remember how it was when I was a young mother with a newborn. We lived in the city, on the third floor of a three decker apartment house. The woman on the second floor had befriended me early in my pregnancy. She was an older, experienced mother and homemaker. I grew to appreciate her many kindnesses and her ‘open door’ policy.
The big day had arrived when we brought our first son home. She was my first visitor and I couldn’t wait for her to arrive. Once I showed her my sleeping bundle of joy and we discussed the ordeal of his birth I began to express my growing apprehensions. “What am I going to do tomorrow when he goes to work and I’m alone with the baby? They said I should give him a bath…and I have to sterilize bottles and make formula…and that bump on his head will be awhile going down and…and” She stopped me and calmly said “When you are up in the morning and ready to begin, stamp on the floor and I’ll come up and help you and then I’ll make us a nice cup of coffee”.
That became a daily habit for the several years we were neighbors. During those times we shared life in our little corner of the world. She had many helpful hints on raising a baby, creating a happy home or even married life – and always over coffee. Little did I realize this would become a life long happening.
The workplace provided regular opportunities to take a break and enjoy the company of others and chat…albeit, the time was a bit more constrained! We talked shop news and current events; we shared tidbits of our family life and the challenges we faced. We’d find reasons to laugh a little and always a cup or two of coffee.
I later years, we were still at it. We’d gather in twos or threes-sometimes more. Graduations, marriages and class reunions gave us plenty to discuss around our coffee cups. Also there was the litany of endless diets that would get us into our best form for the big events.
I don’t know exactly when I crossed over into my Senior Years, but here I am wintering in Florida in an over ‘55’ park. In keeping with our years of sharing with others over a “cuppa” of our favorite hot drink, we now have a formal, set aside time to gather. Our conversations flow easily. Though it didn’t start out this way, couples started breaking up into separate tables for men and women. Topics of the day covered park issues, our latest medical issues and newly or longstanding pass times and hobbies. The noise from so many animated discussions grew and laughter fills the clubhouse.
Down through the years we have discovered that taking ‘breaks’ throughout our days to be with others is beneficial to our wellbeing. In these times we can decrease our stress levels; we can find needed encouragement and assurances that we are really okay; that our little corner of the world…though filled with challenges…is manageable when shared with others over a good, hot cup…
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.