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Kate Collins
My daughter
came to visit me recently. She’s a huge fan of Starbucks,
so one of our daily outings was to the local branch to get
her a grande red eye in a venti cup with a cold soy topper
or a dopio soy espresso machiatto. I think that’s what
she asked for, but don’t quote me on it.
Going
with her was quite a learning experience. On our first trip
she ordered her uber-sophisticated coffee then turned to me
and said, “What do you want, Mom?”
So there
I stood like I’d just come out of a twenty-year coma,
staring at all the choices on the board on the wall.
“Mom?”
my daughter urged. “Hello?”
I could
feel the eyes of everyone in line behind us burning holes
in the back of my head.
“Coffee!”
I blurted, feeling instantly relieved.
“Just
plain coffee?” my Chicago-wise child asked, casting
apologetic glances at the customers in line.
Hey,
it’s not like I don’t know a good cup of coffee
when I taste one. I’ve been to Paris, Rome, Athens .
. . I know what genuine espresso is and I have yet to find
it in the States, unfortunately. So at home I make my own
blend – and it doesn’t cost me $3.50 for one cup.
When
I’m away from home and am forced to make such a weighty
decision, I usually revert to the easiest choice – green
tea. But now there's s a tea shop in town devoted to every
known variety of loose leaf teas. The owners consider tea
an art form. My daughter wants to take me there. I’m
afraid already.
Which
is your favorite – coffee, tea, or one of those ultra
complicated specialty drinks? How about your favorite coffee
shop?
Kate Collins is the New York Times best-selling author
of the Flower Shop Mystery series. Kate’s next mystery,
THROW IN THE TROWEL, #15 in the series, is a February, 2014,
release. All of Kate’s mysteries are available in print,
digital, and large-print editions. Kate’s historical
romances are also available in digital format at Amazon, B&N,
and other e-book sellers.
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