Every Thursday after work, I head west on the Green Line, to a bakery in Brookline where I meet up with Abi and Shanna. We are all college friends and Texas transplants to Boston; we share the same faith, many of the same friends, the same shell-shock over Boston winters and the bond of people who have journeyed a long way together.
We pull off coats, hats, gloves; we order croissants and individual pots of tea, or paninis or soup if we’re really hungry. We sit at a round marble-topped table by the front window, and for a couple of hours we talk about school and work, husbands and friends, church and life.
I am – make no mistake – deeply grateful for these times. However, that doesn’t stop me from missing the Abilene edition of coffee night, feeling a small tug each Tuesday, when I know they’ll be gathering at Mezamiz.
There will be anywhere from two or three to eight or ten women, and they will order decaf lattes and hot cocoa and tea, or maybe a glass of wine. If they’re lucky, they will score the big, cozy couch near the sliding glass door that leads to the deck; some of them will plop down on it, and the others will pull up chairs to form a circle. They’ll exchange hugs and smiles, share photos and stories, talk about kids and work, husbands and friends, struggles and triumphs. They’ll share the latest news of their lives, the details I don’t always hear since I now live so far away. They will go home full and happy, satisfied not only with food and drink but with friendship and love.
I am so grateful for both editions of coffee night – though even while being a part of the one, I can’t help missing the other.
cakes, tea and dreams 
Believe me, we miss you, too!
Before Seattle, I moved quite a bit. Now, I’ve been in the Seattle area for more than 18 years. Most of the women I’ve been closest to, the ones who were there through Kristina’s babyhood and the toddler disasters and more, have moved away. I miss the ones who have moved away. So much. We keep our friendships going though – I am so grateful for the internet. Good for you, cultivating new circles. These are important.
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