Every day around 9:00 am. my friends and I would meet at Tim Horton’s . Rain , snow or sleet did not deter us. We were as reliable as the postal service .Look any morning at the corner table and there we would be laughing and carrying on like a bunch of teenagers.
How did this group form? Well, I do recall that I would see this lovely couple every day sitting quietly talking to one another. Usually they were alone yet you could tell from their body language they were very approachable.
I was new to the area and with the exception of a special group of women who met to learn crocheting and guitar, the only other person in my new social life was a man , my own age, with whom I had developed a tentative relationship . Occassionally we would go to Tim’s for a coffee and we noticed this couple. I saw they drove a pink jeep. It was easily recognizable since there were no others of that colour in the area , to my knowledge. So when we pulled in the parking lot we knew they were inside if that jeep was already there.
I had been only casually aware of the two of them but they were destined later to play a huge role in my new life away from the city.
One morning I went to the coffee shop alone. I wore an aura of sadness , as obvious as a black shroud. I felt despondent over the failure of a relationship that I had over valued. They invited me to sit with them. Later the lady was to say that she could see my colours were tight and dark.
We became friends. With their friendship I felt a sense of belonging and validation of my inherent worth. And I respected their way of dealing with the world. They had faced hardships and overcome them without becoming bitter or jaded. With the nourishment of their company my aura expanded and once again I could embrace the companionship of other people.. In a short time our group of three expanded to six, then eight . Our enthusiasm was contagious.
Eventually because of our numbers and also because of the too cool air conditioning above our table we moved away from our corner to a more central spot. Each time a new person came into our fold everyone welcomed him and without exception someone would pull up a seat to our table so when the person had his coffee he would be assured a place to squeeze in.
We feasted on a smorgasbord of dialogues on God , the power of intention, social mores of varied cultures, philosophy , mathematics , physics and one frivolous debate on whether water swirled differently in the northern and southern hemispheres.
What a joy it was to be a participant in these conversations!
If we lived in the sixties we might have started a commune at that point. But we were all over fifty, well established and too tied up in our possessions to ever entertain that idea however, we were full of dreams and imagined what we would do if we won a jackpot. We had our bucket list of intentions. We would go to Tuscany, Paris , China_ the whole group, We were like children joyous in our camaraderie . And joy is the ingredient lacking in so many people as they live longer lives. We went to movies together, picnics , excursions to St. John’s , kitchen parties and card games . We were game for anything, had the resources, few family obligations ,and were under no pressure to compete. What a wonderful time it was!
I have moved to another place now and the mornings at Tim’s is a pleasant memory. Those days cannot be and have not been replicated. For a brief moment our lives touched, changed us all, and precious memories have been stored in our mental boxes of joy.
grandfallswoman 
What a sweet sense of community, in one ever growing group! We move on but we don’t forget the fun and the good times.
What a lovely post and one that left you with such lasting memories. Thoroughly enjoyed it! Nancy
Thank you Nancy. A couple of days ago a friend of mine sent me a video about the fishing boats of Newfoundland which lamented their passing. As I listened to the music and looked at the pictures I was filled with nostalgia. I think when we write we relive those moments and there is a certain bitter sweetness in the memory. Is that a reflection of our age?
I truly believe that due to the way the world is now, we need to remember times gone by, both good and bad. Many of our memories bring a smile while others produce tears, but we need to reflect on the past to remember when life was much easier to accept especially growing-up. Today’s children have a great deal to endure. I need to remember the past and this I do quite frequently. So you’re right, age has a great deal to do with it. Nancy
Yes, like one of the great American entertainers is known to have sung or said,
“I remember it well’!
Or as another sang, Those were the days ,my friend.
Such lovely people and so welcoming! Although I wasn’t a regular, I could always depend on a smile and a shuffling of chairs to make place for me on the days I did.
Yes, that welcoming feeling was the essence of the group.
i see many small groups of women doing the same thing at my work, they meet every day and never miss one! You should start a new group!
Thanks for your comment Daina. I think the Tim’s days are past now and I have other groups that I’ve been a part of for years here in the city. But it is nice once in a while to meet a friend or two for coffee. Don’t have time to sit at coffee every morning like I did when I lived in Cupids but it was fun while it lasted. If I do decide to start a group would you suggest Starbucks this time? 😉