Sunday Morning Coffee

Rain has arrived. After two days of knocking on the door, it has decided to let itself in. I’m sipping Peet’s Coffee — Major Dickason’s blend makes for a nice departure from the usual French Roast — from my favorite mug.

The mug has a story. It’s bright yellow, with the words “El Paso” on one side and “Texas” on the other. Several Texas-like images straddle the words: horse, cowboy hat atop the state, bull horns, red chili pepper, mission building with Texas flag. I bought it at a truck stop somewhere in Texas or New Mexico (I’m thinking Las Cruces) in February 2003.

I’d driven out to Dallas for my grandmother’s 90th birthday. She got a big kick out of that, and so did I.

I’d intended to take the northern route home — I-40 through Oklahoma City and Albuquerque — but thought I might run into bad weather and changed my itinerary at the last moment. Good thing, as that night I saw images of snowed-in cars and trucks along my original route on the local news.

As it was, I didn’t escape snow along the southern route:

. . .

My grandmother died just over a year ago. She’d moved back out to California to be closer to my mother. My wife and I had driven up to visit a few times, and got to say goodbye. My grandmother lived a full and rich life. When I sip coffee from this mug, I do so with memories of visiting her in Texas. Those were good times.

On this day…

• 2007: Television Shows I’m Watching — Here are the ones I don’t miss:

  Battlestar Galactica
  Late Night with Conan O’Brien
  The Office
  Psych

  I watch others, but none as compelling as [...]