My New Morning Coffee Klatsch

In 1983 I was a new bride in a small town of 400.  I knew no one except my husband and his family who had lived there all their lives.  I was lonely.  I had graduated from college where I met my husband, got married and moved to his hometown.  We hadn’t planned our stay to be so long but our lives didn’t take the path we had planned.  Nearly 28 years later we are still in our small town working at our family business.

In those early days of marriage I needed to find some friends.  I started out each day with a walk to the post office to pick up our mail and then ventured into the local café for a cup of coffee.  It was there I met my first friends in town.  Each morning there was a gathering of women for their morning coffee.  It was my first coffee klatsch or coffee clutch as my Dad used to refer to my Mom and her friends having morning coffee together in the neighborhood.  “Coffee Klatsch” comes from German Kaffeeklatsch meaning “coffee chat.”

Each morning we would meet for coffee and talk about the latest news, our kids, troubles, and plans for the rest of the day.   After coffee we would each return to our respective homes and go about our household tasks.  Sometimes we would meet back at the café in the afternoon after our chores were done.  The first few years we met almost daily.  I wasn’t so lonely anymore,  then one by one each of my friends got jobs outside of the home and our morning coffee klatsch was no more.  A few years later my first friend died of cancer and two others from the group moved to other towns.  Back to lonely again but I was busy with my four kids at home.

The years between then and now were filled with years of daycare, teaching, bookkeeping and raising kids.  Now my days are filled with daily tasks at our business, household chores and spending time with my husband and kids.  I haven’t had much time for friends outside of work since I quit teaching and started working at our family business. 

As I was driving home this evening from an after hours tow call I was delighted to think that I have my “Coffee Klatsch” once again.  It isn’t in the same form as it once was but each morning I meet with my new friends I have found through blogging.  I pour myself a cup of coffee and grab my daughter’s laptop and turn it on. 

I check on each and every one of my friends from blogging.  It’s like having coffee with my best friends and my own personal virtual magazine .   We discuss travel,  photography, cooking, family life, spirituality, books and current events.  My coffee klatsch friends are all over the United States, Philippines, Australia, England, Canada and New Zealand. 

Each one shares a bit of their lives each morning as do I.  We each go about our daily tasks and most meet back each morning or at least weekly.  I would love it if we were all meeting in the small town café face to face like I used to with my friends but this is the next best thing.  I treasure my early morning coffee time once again. 

Thank you to all who share your lives with me.  My life is richer because of each and every one of you. 

P.S  It’s okay if you prefer tea….You’re always welcome!

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