Quaking in our boots
Tuesday March 31st 2009, 8:31 pm
Filed under: Family

imgp7372Mom was wondering how stuff had magically appeared on her cosmetics travel bag in the bathroom.

Her first earthquake. And we didn’t even feel it, although Richard did at work. Granted, we much prefer quakes when they only reach entertainment level, and this one had created a mystery for her: where did this old contact case come from? How did this small packet get here? Why would her daughter have put them there?

A Goldilocks quake:  this one was just right.

The other California experience I wanted Mom to have before she flies home tomorrow was a trip downtown to Coupa Cafe.

So I took her there last week.   I wanted her to have the best hot chocolate anywhere ever.   I had all these associations with the place, so many positive memories: of Sam bringing the wondrous stuff home to surprise me with while out with her friends, of Richard and me enjoying a good tall mug’s worth on a cold evening in that beautiful old building.  Of the incredible Coupa dessert he and Sam bought me that was so rich it took me two days to eat it.  The photograph of a lush hilly greenness going across the wall of the rainforest farm where the owners’ beans come from.

When Mom and I walked in, the first person we saw was Sam’s old high school French teacher, who immediately asked me how she was doing these days.  I love this town.

imgp7358Mom confirmed that that hot chocolate was really quite good.  But I got the distinct impression she could just as happily have been sipping away anywhere else as well; what she was enjoying was how much I was enjoying taking her there.  And being with me.

For a moment I felt just slightly let down, and then I inwardly guffawed at myself: well, of COURSE!  She’s your MOTHER!  What did you *expect*?  Or want, fer cryin’ out loud, woman.

I’m half tempted to try out her suggestion that we could create a similar mug’s worth if we were willing to put straight half-and-half in our morning cocoa.

But watch out for the aftershocks and keep away from the scales in the bathroom if you do.


9 Comments so far
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Thank you for the link to Coupa’s. I’ve never been there, but I really must give it a try. I didn’t feel the earthquake at all.

Funny from real life: Many years ago I worked in an office where there was a young lady. One day she said she wanted a cup of tea.n “Do you have any of that Continual Conversation?” she asked. “Aahh, you mean Constant Comment?”

Comment by Don Meyer 03.31.09 @ 9:00 pm

As long as you both got joy out of it, the reason doesn’t matter so much. You were with your Mom.

Comment by Amanda 04.01.09 @ 3:28 am

We had a jolt here last year & quaked just a bit..did not like it! Try and keep them on the west coast, okay? 😉

Meantime, pass the cream, & I’ll find a nice picture to gaze upon whilst I sip my copycat cup of hot chocolate..giggles. 🙂

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 04.01.09 @ 4:30 am

I hadn’t heard about it, but the word “quake” anywhere near you/your blog worries me. Glad it was just big enough to be “dinner table points” when your mom goes back East. “Why yes, Martha, I was in the quake of ’09!”

Comment by Barbara-Kay 04.01.09 @ 6:55 am

Bought your book last week.Next time I’m in the Bay Area (in laws) I’ll find a way to get it signed. By the way, fat free half and half is OK.

Comment by Cynthia 04.01.09 @ 6:59 am

Yikes! Eaaarrttthhhquuuaaakkkee! Glad to hear it was teeny tiny.

Comment by Alicia 04.01.09 @ 7:16 am

More beautiful blooms… I’m so glad you were able to share your cocoa spot with your mother. And really, isn’t it nice to know you trump chocolate?! Come on… that’s BIG!

Comment by Channon 04.01.09 @ 7:50 am

I’m glad it was a small quake. How wonderful for you that you were able to enjoy such a pleasant, peaceful moment with your mother:)

Comment by TripletMom 04.01.09 @ 7:52 am

I too am glad that is was a small quake!
Oh and I hope that the numbers on the scale are ever increasing for you now!!

Comment by karin 04.01.09 @ 8:21 am



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