within a cup of coffee...

as the wind kicks up and the temperature drops, i tend to long for warm cups of coffee or some other novelty drink that adds its own flavor to my morning workday.

at starbucks, autumn enters the scene with the pumpkin spice latte. or the hot apple cider with a wee bit of caramel. then november arrives and with it, the launch of the gingerbread latte and salted caramel hot chocolate or mocha. apparently the peppermint mocha is available year round. yet, as ridiculous as this sounds, seems to taste better when served in those classic holiday red cups.

down the road at peets, despite the arrivals of similar pumpkin, gingerbread, and peppermint options, there is simply no substitute for the simple richness of the extra hot vanilla latte. made with whole milk--ack, i know--the foam is to-die-for and the swirl of vanilla runs deep in this warm cup of goodness. i'm still simultaneously praising and cursing my dear friend for introducing me to this heavenly drink.

since relocating to a certain building downtown, i have--for better or worse--become a more frequent visitor to the starbucks nestled at the bottom of the high rise i spend my workdays in. the staff are vivaciously friendly at ungodly morning hours, greet me with a smile, and invite my questions about life in their coffee driven world. they have learned my name as i've learned theirs and even know how to spell it correctly on the cup. sometimes they challenge me to consider new drinks but most often have the cup of my old favorite ready in hand when they see me coming.

through this experience, i have realized that getting a cup of coffee is more than just that. it's about connections we make. rituals we create. communities we build. money we spend. and the time we take, waste, or gain for all of it.

whether you frequent a coffee shop, brew your own, or stay away from the stuff, may you still experience the warmth of this season. And may all your little traditions spill more deeply into your life than as far as the holidays can carry them.