Cups

I love cups. I go through/have gone through phases with cups. Right now, I'm drinking from this lovely cone shaped light blue porcelain cup designed by Sophie Conran, daughter of Terrance Conran the British founder of the design store. We had a Conran's in New York over on 59th and First Avenue for many years. Last time I was there I bought this robin's egg blue cup. I love its shape and it's thin porcelain lip. I drink my home roasted coffee from it every day that I am upstate. I'm thinking of buying another one for the city. The Conran store closed and they moved to ABC Carpet on 19th Street.

When I'm in the city I drink from this bright yellow thick mug that was handpainted by an artist in Israel. I bought it in Jerusalem's Old City when I was there with my late husband in 1987. This cup is a riot of design. It has a thick lip. It is cylindrical, not conical. And I love it too.

It reminds me of our trip. Jerry hosted it for his family. We weren't married at the time. He was, in fact, still married to his former wife who traveled with us--ask me sometime over coffee. There were ten of us: His four boys and their spouses or girlfriends, me and his former wife. Jerry and his cousin Mordecai planned this trip so that his children would know their Israeli cousins. At the big reunion gathering there were 66 guests. Drinking from this clay mug with its chips and history, I feel closer to Jerry and the wonderful memories.

My daily morning coffee ritual includes planning my to dos that start when the coffee is gone. I hang on to my cup as long as the schedule will allow to my thoughts, my coffee and my cup.