When I was not yet retired, a cup of coffee used to mean a break from work.

Today a cup of coffee is a niche in time in which I am with no one but myself and can be as selfish and introverted as I want.

It is an affirmation that, while all of my time is mine, I should set aside some of it in which I can remind myself how special I am to myself, if to no one else.

It is a respite in which both my body and my mind can relax--or contemplate something highly pleasant and enjoyable.

It is a symbol of security, of sanity, of normalcy, and of the desire to remain wakeful and reflective in life.

A cup of coffee knows no religion, no race, and no gender. In a cup of coffee, no matter what the cup, we are all equal.