The Coffee Shop

We spend a lot of time (and a good deal of dollars) at our local coffee shop - the Coffee Corner. We love the owner, Gina. We love the lattes (Cari) and coffee (Tony), and we love the conversation. Many of you have heard me say that I was not particularly pleased when the Lord called Tony and I to small-town Iowa. Over time, however, he has molded our hearts and given us a deep love for the people of our community. One thing I have come to appreciate about our small town is the guarantee that wherever you're headed, whether the grocery store or the coffee shop or the YMCA, you're bound to see a familiar face. (Yes, there are days when this falls on my list of things I don't like so much, but usually it's a positive.)

I've blogged about the old men at the coffee shop before and I must bring them up again. Each time we go in, there's a table full of anywhere from 5-12 gray-haired men in the back corner sipping on coffee. Tony always heads straight back to greet them, and they smile as they see him coming (who wouldn't?!?). Then they start in with their questions about when we'll be having a baby (or some other topic to harass Tony). I always end up laughing while listening to the boisterous sound this crew makes as they laugh so hard at themselves they about roll off their chairs.

This morning it went a little something like this..."So Tony, do you have the nursery painted yet? Is it blue or pink? Doesn't your wife want to start a family?" Each question with hysterical laughter in between. Tony laughs along as he passes out a hand shake to each one of these great guys. It's a blessing to get to know people from different generations. We learn much from their experience...and their humor. :)