One Cup To-Go

By: Brooke Laughlin

Grande, white chocolate mocha with extra whip, I reply in the voice box as I pull around my beloved second home:

Starbucks. This is the home of my addiction. I don’t believe my coffee addiction was made by choice, but

rather by overexposure.

I am always amused by the upbeat energy of the workers and how well they remember the happenings in

each person’s life. I walk into Starbucks not feeling like a customer, but as a friend.

White chocolate mocha in hand, I would go to study groups for the

next big AP Biology exam. I would meet my best friend there for

those tough advice talks that only someone close to you can give.

There are a number of places

I could have chosen to meet

at for these occurrences,

however, I feel as though I

achieve my best and

communicate the most over this product at a

simple wooden table.

Through my drink, I find empowerment and a sense of security that one may only find in participating in sports or listening to music. I find

myself engulfed in that grande cup as my outlet, as well as a passage.

A simple drink can characterize my connection with my mother. No matter

where we are or what we are doing; we always find the

time to make our way to grab a cup and chat.

As for my sister, she can take the credit for familiarizing me with the nature of Starbucks. I

would ask what she was drinking and she would reply, “venti iced coffee, black, no

sugar or cream, with an extra shot of espresso.”

Unbeknownst to me, I grew up with the

terminology of a second language.

Seeing as I find my comfort within this commercial drink world, I wish I could

understand life in the sense of frappes and lattes. However, each individual is an

atypical order, some with an extra shot of espresso and others plain, strong coffee.

I suppose its up to us to experiment with different drinks because sticking with one drink, as “our drink”, may not

represent us entirely. I may bounce from a soothing white chocolate mocha, to a fiery pumpkin spice latte.

If we never try something new, then we’ll miss out on a new delight in life. Just like experimentation, we need to

be open to new people and ideas. I always try to go beyond my comfort zone and explore options that I may

not have seen desirable before.

Whenever you find yourself driving past a Starbucks, consider what

makes the line you see so long. Is there another language you are mission out on? Is there another

meaning behind the scolding to-go cup?

These drinks could mean a myriad of meanings to any

individual, but to me it’s a way of life, a way of living,

communicating, and to assist my writing through those late school

nights.

Works Cited