It’s 3:42pm on a Monday and I’m in the wondrous magical cafe/post office/community gathering place where I work.
Right now there are folks from Australia talking with a local, a table of folks from Germany in the back, and I’ve had people from near where I live (45 minutes away), some folks from the states, from Ontario and others from PEI…today has been awash with wondrous kind humans.
Fast forward to 6:12pm
I had such a lovely day. Every single person that came in was gentle, kind and thoughtful. The people who own the shop I work at on Mondays…they are also so kind, and funny and just really good humans. I feel lucky to call them friends. They have created such a magical space. I wish you could see it.
Now I’ve stopped for a moment in another town to have tacos and hibiscus juice (that they make in house) and just sit for a moment before going home. To finish this newsletter.
I took nine pictures of mugs that I love from my cabinet just this morning. For the prompt today. It feels like so long ago, this morning.
Here they are. Each one has a story.
The Gay Uncle Time mug. One of two I have. One of my favourite people used to run a show in Seattle called The Gay Uncle Time and it was pure magic. Nights of stories, art and an education about gay culture from the 70s onward. It felt like a happening, that show. Created with love and enthusiasm and a crowd that interacted with the host. It felt like community. This mug reminds me that I didn’t dream it. That it really happened.
The faerie mug. A gift from a friend I met in first year theatre, in 1998, at the university of Manitoba. She gave it to me for my first wedding. Her and her mom had a cupboard full of unique mugs made by potters and choosing one for tea was always an adventure.
A beautiful mug made by a miq mac artist on Cape Breton Island. We got it on my birthday trip this past summer.
A vintage fox mug from the shop I work at on Monday. It came with wondrous tea inside.
One of my absolute favourite mugs from a shop called I Like It in Minneapolis. I love that it says “I’m Sorry” on it, and that the shape of Minnesota looks a lot like the shape of Manitoba. When I lived in the US people were always commenting on how often I said sorry. I told them it was a part of my culture.
A mug with the moon from a now defunct cafe called Moon Town Market. A reminder from when we first moved to our new hometown.
A mug I bought online from a Cheerfully Made Market front the pandemic. An artifact from a time when we were all sheltering in place, supporting each other and the arts.
My Moth mug, from when I used to be the producer of the Seattle Moth storySLAM. That also feels so very long ago. It was such a brilliant job.
A mug made for Cheerfully-Made and bought after I moved away from my heart-home, Almonte, Ontario. A town full of wondrous, kind and creative humans. The town where I had my children. Where I had my creative space. Where my friends still write, live, stop in the streets to chat with each other. There is not a day where I don’t miss that. Them. It’s funny to love so many places, so many people. I guess that is life with an open heart.
Heart,
Wake
Sounds an amazing place ❤️ love the mugs and their stories!!! 😍
I love all your special mugs. Where did you get your hot pad under it? I’m very happy that you guys landed in such a wonderful world.💖