More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose

By Lauren Scott

From the early woes of childhood and teen years, this collection of stories and poems paints a picture of young dreams and fears. But as adulthood sets in, these dreams and fears change. More than Coffee touches on love and loss, nature and endurance, marriage and parenting. In these memories, humor diffuses fear and taking risks proves to be a pow

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lauren Scott
• Release date: Sep 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578892467

Lauren Scott

Lauren is a writer of poetry and short memoirs who lives in California with her husband, Matthew, and their lovable canine, Copper; they have two grown children. She has authored two collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013) and Finding a Balance (2015). She hopes her readers will find a little nugget of delight, comfort, or understanding in her poetry and stories - some detail that resonates with them beyond her words.

Book preview

Dedication

To my family and friends

for your continued support

through the laughter and tears,

and for the many cups of coffee

we have shared. Thank You.

Preface

In the early mornings when I sit at my desk to work on this book, my steaming cup of coffee provides comfort as the aroma whirls around me like a warm hug. I can't help but realize how often coffee is there for me. Coffee greets my husband, Matt, and I each morning as we wake up slowly. It's also there on our backpacking trips; we take a sip of that instant brew but it doesn't compare to our favorite roast. When I visit Peet's to meet a friend for an hour or two to chat about life, coffee is there for me. It's also there during my workday as the espresso machine whirs into life when the first person to arrive at the office presses the start button.  But it's more than coffee.

The meaning lies deeper than a caffeine fix. It encompasses early mornings together, outside tables in the sunshine, and the productivity and frustrations of work. It's about those quiet, nostalgic moments sitting on a smooth slab of granite, captivated by the sights and sounds of wilderness surroundings. And it's even about looking inward, reflecting on the past. So, whatever roast I sip, it's the people, places, experiences, and memories that matter most to me - coffee just happens to be a bonus.

Compiling these fond memories has been in the making for decades. As I enter my sixth, life becomes clearer, experiences turn into precious gems to treasure. Grateful is what comes to mind from the love I found in the man I married thirty-two years ago. I think of what is entailed in the role of a mother, and what it feels like when our children leave home for the last time, when we truly become empty nesters. And how the loss of not only one parent, but both, initiates a walk down memory lane, recalling formative childhood years.

Challenges find their way into our life, but when we gather the courage to take the leap, we discover newfound self-assurance. Humor also deserves an invitation into our routines. It teaches us how to overcome the triggers that breathe life into fear. And we cannot ignore nature with its beauty and all it offers as it is primal to our very existence.

But with all that life presents to us, it doesn't happen in neat, wrapped-up packaging. It happens organically. Sometimes we can influence outcomes, but many times we can't. So, the order in which my memories occur in this book render a personal thread of experiences and adventures, toggling between past and present. 

I share these poems and personal stories hoping to inspire you to see the beauty around, to feel gratitude for all that you have been given, to face challenges with verve, and to trek through that fear in hope you will find the light. And if you're a coffee drinker, I invite you to pour a cup, relax in your favorite chair, and enjoy the rich taste while turning these pages. 

Love,

Lauren

Silver Heirlooms

My husband, Matt, and I pull into the parking stall of our camp sight and begin to unload the truck, dumping our gear onto the picnic table. A slight breeze floats through the pine trees cooling us from the sun’s burning touch; the sapphire lake water invites us in for a swim. A tempting invitation, but first the labor and fun of setting up our wilderness home. I dig into the big green tub looking for kitchen stuff and my breath catches when my eyes focus on the antiquated set of silverware. When I was a little girl, my parents, Doris and Richard, owned a cabin in Big Bear, California, which was the original home of the black and silver set. After they had passed, the set came to me. The collection is service for six, a little faded, but I couldn’t believe how sturdy it was to have lasted over fifty years. At the time I acquired the set, I didn’t give it much thought, so it joined our camping equipment.

As we enjoy the stir fry Matt prepares for our first dinner, the silverware evokes fond memories. An image of our cabin on the corner