A weekly obsession that brings us both joy.
It's an obsession that can have lingering effects through the rest of the day.
We enjoy a regular visit to our local Starbucks.
We can be sitting quietly together in Bug's apartment, the TV flickering images of a popular game show when Bug tilts his head toward me with that look. I've come to understand what that sly little smile means. The gentle lift of his eyebrows and the mischievousness dancing in his eyes.
It's become a weekly routine for Bug and I to wander the two blocks to our local familiar coffee house, rain or shine. It's a chance for Bug to leave his home for an hour or so. Even with me in his life and we do so much, there are chunks of time during the week where Bug's on his own watching TV, listening to music on his computer, or surfing the web. These little sojourns for a warm beverage cuts into that routine.
In the cooler weather I bundle Bug in his over-sized ski-jacket and if it's really cold I'll wrap a fleecy blanket around his legs. Most of the time Bug can get himself over to the strip-mall where the cafe is in his electric chair, but every so often he'll ask me to bring him in the manual chair.
Our route shortcuts us through the alley where we avoid the busyness of Hastings street and can arrive to our caffeinated destination quickly.
Arriving to such familiarity is comforting. The sights, sounds and smells wrap up in feelings of welcoming. Bug parks his chair at a table. I still check in with him for what he wants, but it's usually the same each time; short cafe mocha with a splash of peppermint flavouring. The treat that we may or may not have with our drinks is the only unknown factor when we walk through the door. It could be a chocolate chunk cookie, chocolate banana loaf, or any one of the other delectable treats under the glass domed case.
I'm pretty predictable with my drink order as well. I've become one of 'those people' who's developed and fine-tuned their drink order over the years; grande soy chai late, three pumps of chai, no H2O, no foam... see what I mean?
When traveling, that smiling mermaid has become a beacon of familiarity when everything else is unknown. Bug and I can darken the doorway of any Starbucks, order our customary drinks and suddenly we're only a couple blocks from home.
When we were in Mexico with Bug's family we arrived just as a tropical storm was descending on the region. One day we finally braved the rainy elements and ventured into Playa del Carmen for an afternoon of shopping. Bug was chilled from the dampness and we came upon a Starbucks. I asked if he wanted a hot chocolate and he replied with an eager 'Yes!'. As we were enjoying our familiar beverages and watching the rain fall outside, Bug said he didn't think he'd be drinking a hot chocolate on vacation in Mexico! We were so grateful to have stumbled upon this little pice of home.
After Bug and I have enjoyed our treats and waved goodbye to our friendly Barista, we usually head over to the supermarket and pick up some stray and forgotten food item for the evening meal.
As much as we enjoy our trips away, it's the familiarity of the known that brings us home.
Until the next time...
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