As I was waiting for my coffee at Water Street Coffee Joint, I noticed someone else’s order waiting to be picked up.  I said to the barista behind the counter that looks really good — can I take that instead? to which she said What?  I couldn’t hear you over the steam… which is when I had that momentary decision to either say forget it or to proceed with my commitment to the “joke” and repeat my line.  I went for the repetition and she laughed — not because it was funny but because she wanted to affirm me for staying committed to a rather inane dialogical contribution to our shared culture.  Then she said OMG, here!  And she took one of those little cups for children (I’m guessing) and gave me the last few ounces that otherwise would’ve been dumped out.  I tried it.  It was very very good, and here’s why: it’s coffee infused with cayenne pepper.  I’m sure to you this sounds (circle one) terrible / offensive / ridiculous / an affront to Juan Valdez but I must say… it magically combined two things that I like, namely coffee and spicy food, with great aplomb.  Next time I find change in the couch, I’m going to buy some, perhaps in a larger cup.  But consider this: why does God make things taste good?  Because He’s good, He’s creative, and He loves us.  Even in our broken world we have glimpses of delight.  Watch for these moments and be thankful.

These little cups 1) make my hand look huge and 2) remind me of our time in Brasil