When I retired over 15 years ago, my wife was still working. I had plenty to do with a golf membership, a woodworking shop in my basement and a motorcycle. It was the early mornings that were a little hard for me to get started. A gym membership took care of part of the morning, but still a lonely house was not very inviting so I started to go to the new Panera Bread store for coffee and sometimes a bagel. After a few trips there, it was noticeable that many of the people I saw were the same ones and they were doing what I was doing except many were doing it before going to work. I met an elderly lady (older than me) and she seemed to know me. After introductions she told me that she had worked with my sister-in-law at the university for many years. My sister-in-law was in a nursing home at the time, but this lady I had just met was still working at the age of over 80. From that day on, my coffee time was with her.
Later four college professors who knew her joined us, and the club was started. Over the years one of the professors died of cancer way too young, and the others stopped coming due to their schedules but others had joined us. It seemed that everyone in town knew this lady who had befriended me and were stopping by to say hello. A retired couple joined us; I had played golf with him so knew him. Another couple who were friends of theirs joined us and then another and another. We were having to move tables around to seat everybody, and the club had grown quite large. We had up to 15 or 16 people enjoying coffee and bagels together. Most were retired except the lady who started the club. She was still working and was the oldest employee in West Virginia State employment. She finally retired and celebrated her 90th birthday. We celebrated with her, and one of the club members brought a cake.
A new part of the club was started with the cake. Now we had a cake each month to celebrate any birthdays in that month. I get my cake in October. New people came and others left. Some went south for the winter but came back in the spring. Some came just once in a while and others were there every day including Saturday sometimes. The lady who started the club had some health issues and finally stopped coming at age 91. She died a few years later, and we all were there for her at the end. Another gentleman joined us a couple of years ago. He had lost his wife, and the club became his new social life. We enjoyed his humor and wit until a few weeks ago he died suddenly. Again we were there for him and his family. The coffee club stayed strong and is still going. Some of the members have had tragedies with deaths in their families, and others have had graduations and weddings and births of grandchildren. We all share in the grief or glee when these things occur and have become extended family to each other.
At this Christmas season it is wonderful to have another family of people that care for you and visa versa. The love of Christ is with us every day and we often think of the lady who started it all. My wish is that everyone can experience the love and care that I feel when I am having my morning coffee with friends. The lady that started this wonderful gathering was Margaret, and she will be remembered along with Carl and Bud.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND HAVE A JOYOUS NEW YEAR!
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