Mary B. Hansen

One of the things I snatched up when my mother and her sister were sorting through my grandparents belongings after they both died was a plastic green coffee cup. My grandmother was a great tea drinker and had lots of beautiful tea cups and saucers that she would use. However, this green cup was not for coffee or for tea. She always used it to serve soup and stews at the noon meal. I am fairly certain she had a proper and official soup ladle. She probably had several knowing her love of dishes and silverware. But she always used the green plastic cup.

The cup reminds me of family stories shared over a hearty meal my grandmother would prepare. Vegetable stew. Barley soup with ground meat. Maybe homemade bread, maybe store bought bread, to sop up the remainder of the liquid. There was most likely a side of cucumbers with salt and steamed broccoli or a cabbage salad. There was always dessert - cookies from the cookie jar, banana cream pie, or rice pudding.

Now the green plastic coffee cup sits on my desk where I can see it every day as I write, answer emails, or attend a webinar. I thought about using it to dish up soups and stews of my own creation, but it didn’t feel right. I want to make sure it stays safe even though it is such a simple thing - not fancy in any way.

I think about my grandmother dishing up love in each pot of soup. With every glance it reminds me of sharing time with her - feeling loved and cared for.