“All
these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall”
This creamy, silky, steaming cup of cappuccino is a ritual
of mine whenever I have visited my favorite city in the world. It’s enjoyed
every morning, in exactly this spot, every single time and always outside.
Often times I’m there as the restaurant is turning over it’s chairs and the
market people setting up their offerings.
Some may think that I lack imagination for being so
routine in a historic place. For me, it is anything but that. This particular cup
has been enjoyed alongside some of the most special people I could ever know
and reminds me of how very lucky I am in my life.
I am talking about Rome and this is Campo dei Fiore.
This city, this cup, this spot, this feeling… the warmth
and calm never elude me.
It’s not about the coffee exactly. It’s about the moments
in time you allow yourself to just be and take in all the present has to offer.
You feel it in your soul and know you’re creating something special with the
people around you, friends or strangers. I’ve learned this here, in this spot
with this cup. Take time to slow down. Be the observer and just watch it all
come alive!
I’ve been to Rome on four occasions. However, it was the first
one, with my mother, where my communion with this culture, it's people, began.
Carving out and sharing a small piece of our day, every day, as the piazza
began to bustle took us back to a simpler time.
Watching the “slow” life happen around us became a morning
ceremony of sorts, each and every time we returned to Rome. These were quiet
moments when none of us needed to speak, each leaving the table by ourselves,
when the spirit moved, to explore and be totally drawn in by the people selling
their food or the locals who were doing their daily shopping.
I visited this woman each morning.
She was bundled up in a wool sweater against the morning chill and she trimmed
artichokes. Each morning I would stop, watch and smile at her. She always
smiled back. It became our thing and each morning our smiles became wider!
Cappuccinos in Roma make the world’s best milk mustaches!
This week’s prompt was to write a 400 word memoir piece in which one of the following features prominently–wine, coffee, or chocolate.
I can’t wait to read these savory, stimulating, and sweet stories from your life.
Remember—memoir must be true—
