‘Would you like a coffee?’ Sonny asks Dr. Bhaima in Blood Chill as they sit to discuss a case.
How many conversations begin with an offer of a drink? Innumerable.
All over the world, we pause and bond over coffee, tea, or any other beverage. There’s usually a personal choice stated as we prepare to enjoy time together.
‘I’ll have a dark roast, two sugars, a pinkie width of milk.’ ‘Green tea, decaffeinated, with lemon.’ Sometimes, a donut is added. Iced and glistening, the sugary temptation waits beside our mug on a round white plate, silent witness to our ritual.
Then conversation begins. Or continues. We listen. We talk. We share. Sips of coffee add commas and pauses to our words. Bites of bakery punctuate occasional open-mouthed laughter. It doesn’t truly matter what we’re eating or drinking. It’s partly an excuse to indulge in time together. The comfort of the ritual is what’s important: we serve nourishing conversation, spending time with each other.
In Blood Chill, the ritual of food, drink, and conversation comes when characters need a moment to pause and connect. In their world, a pandemic has already occurred. They have been through the rinse cycle of uncertainty and disease. They’ve come out the other side, still a community, connected and caring. Their society is still bonded, supportive, and sharing.
We’re headed into uncertain times in our current world. A virus threatens our way of life and how we approach each other. Social events and places feel riskier now. We look askance at any cough we hear. People think about social distancing, and prepare for possible isolation. We worry that the very thing sustaining us – human connection – is becoming dangerous.
Instead, we should make sure connection with each other isn’t lost. Our mental health relies on being part of a community, sharing and enjoying conversation. ‘It’s just coffee,’ and yet it’s not.
In the days ahead, remember to keep connections. Remember to reach out, listen, and talk with each other. Remember to share thoughts and feels, how life is going, and how the day has been. Modern times has given us the means to keep in touch, face-to-face as well as by text, email, and apps. Come what may, we will still spend time together, sharing moments of laughter and fun. We will stay connected. We will always have coffee together.
Thanks for stopping by to share your food for thought, Lisa!
You can find L.M. Bryski here:
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