May I Have Another Cup Please?

There is nothing more special than walking into momma's house, and her asking me to I sit down and have a cup of coffee. It's not every day that she asks me to do this. The reasons being, she usually doesn't drink coffee late in the day and she can't be still long enough to drink it. You may think I am a bit silly but I was thrilled to have this pleasure and felt excited. You see, I know that when I am invited to sit with my momma, it is going to be a wonderful time of sharing. It is a time when she lets her white hair, and I, my dyed blonde hair down, and throw caution to the wind. She will always be respected as my momma, but when we sip on coffee we become girlfriends.  We no longer recognize our age difference. Our age can be anywhere between 10 and 80, depending on the topic. For example, if momma is talking about some romance book she has read, we are twenty. If it is something about medical issues we are 80.  Sometimes when momma is a bit angry, we are a couple of 10 years-olds, rolling on the playground, slugging it out. She asks me questions to things that she says she doesn't understand, "Phyllis, she says, as she leans forward and takes a sip of coffee, I want to ask you something. What's that momma? She usually asks me questions that she already knows the answer to. It is her way seeing if I will come up with the same answer. It is somewhat of a test or game we play without it ever being verbalized as such. We laugh, get silly, tell our hearts desire, and share our secrets.  Momma is teaching me to take time out of my busy day, forget my age, to do something I wouldn't normally do and to ask my daughters to join me. Forget about our age differences and me being their mother. Instead, be a close friend. Laugh and be silly with them. Share secrets and dreams if they so desire. Give them a safe place to be angry and roll in the dirt. 

l hung on momma's every word.  Under my breath I prayed I would never forget them. She spoke with wisdom that I wouldn't trade for all of the self-help books money could ever buy. Her laughter lifted my spirits and drove away the blues. Her love for me goes beyond all reason. 
There we were, talking and sipping, solving the world’s problems and a few of our own. We spoke freely knowing it will be kept safe. 

I knew I didn't have much time until the coffee in our cups would be gone. The moment faded with every sip. It would soon become a cherished memory. 

Momma took her last sip and said, "Well it's time for me to get up from here and get to doing something. I knew that was my cue that I had to do the same. I left with the coffee momma had served warming my belly. The time I spent with momma, well, that warmed my heart. 

Momma, may I have another cup please? But this time make it a grande. 

Just Sayin'
Phyllis Westland