A Little Coffee Talk Made Her Day

I almost hate reading the paper and keep thinking I will take the radical step of actually canceling it. Then, I read “Wherever We Go in the Southland, We’re Java Talking” (Dec. 7) and forgave the world for all the atrocities that are inflicted on me every morning. It absolutely made my day. I actually laughed out loud while I was reading it.

I met a French friend for what else but coffee that morning and bought two papers, one for him and one for the coffee shop. We sat outside, sipping our lattes, nonfat with 2% foam (single shot for me, double shot for him) while I read to him as we mopped our eyes.

He is going to discuss it with his French class and send it to a French friend who has difficulty getting a sense of what America is all about and why he stays here.

I am going to send the article home to Canada. There in a nutshell is the whole experience and wonder of living where we do, what it’s really like here.

Last night I interrupted my husband as he was doing his accounts and annoyed him by insisting that he put everything down while I read something to him. He, the American that he is, seemed the most puzzled of all my audiences that day and listened with strained patience while once again I read it between gasps of laughter. It was really a wonderful read and a truly great laugh.

LOIS LAUGHLIN

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