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in Tokyo - which, by the way, included five from Ole Miss and six from
Mississippi State.
As we talked, it struck me how naturally the conversation flowed.
Some may attribute that to being in the South and how we are, as a
rule, fairly friendly folks. However, there’s something about sitting
down at a table together with a cup of coffee that prompts interaction,
even when it’s spontaneous and among strangers.
Several years ago I read a book entitled, “First We Have Coffee,”
On a recent Saturday morning at Cups in Brandon, I asked two
gentlemen who were enjoying coffee and conversation if I could
interrupt them for a moment. Jokingly they replied, “that depends.”
I explained that I was writing a story about conversations over coffee,
and they graciously invited me to sit down and visit. Jay Eads of
Brandon and Joel Jones of Pearl met 20 years ago at Brandon Gun and
Pawn and found they had much in common. Both men were in
the military for many years - Jay in the Navy and Joel in the Marines
and Army. They are also both retired attorneys and worked for the
attorney general of Mississippi, though not in the same department.
For several years, the two have met every Saturday morning to
catch up over coffee, with topics ranging from politics, electric cars,
family, and everything in between. “We’ve come up with solutions to
lots of problems,” the pair joked, “but so far no one has asked us for
them.” This particular morning they were discussing the Olympics,
wishing there was more publicity about Mississippi athletes competing
by Margaret Jensen, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants. Filled with
stories from her childhood, the book paints a beautiful picture of
Jensen’s mother, a pastor’s wife, who over the years welcomed countless
friends and strangers into her home with a hot cup of coffee and,
more importantly, a listening ear. “Mama” offered encouragement,
wisdom, and hope to others when she put the coffee pot on and said,
“first we have coffee, and then we talk.”
Life moved at a slower pace when “Mama” was entertaining at her
kitchen table over 100 years ago. “I’m just so busy.” How many times
have we heard this, or said it ourselves? Our days are filled with
checking items off a to-do list, but if we’re honest, much of our
“busyness” is of our own making, with little lasting importance. I think
my acquaintances at the coffee shop would agree that our lives would
be infinitely richer if we replaced an item or two on our to-do list with
“invite a friend for coffee.” Jay said it perfectly. “Coffee is just the
vehicle. It’s really about the conversations and the relationships.”
Hometown MADISON • 15