Coffee Percs

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

On the way back to the kitchen, he replaced the shotgun on the rack in the hall. In the kitchen, the coffee was hot and ready on the stove. He took two blue enamel cups from the shelf on the wall and filled them with the streaming black brew.” 

                    –C. Wayne Winkle  (Frank Bannon–The Fixer)
 
Watch out, Pard!  I’m comin’ through with two cups of freshly brewed, very hot coffee.  Grab yur chair, and get situated.  Ahhh, good coffee, hot, strong, and black, just the thing t’ get yuh goin’.  
     Pard, let me tell yuh, I was some riled yesterday.  Someone broke into the coffee shop in downtown Coldspring.  Good folks own that place and someone did them evil.  The Lord knows and will take care of things in the long run, but it just irks me somethin’ fierce when good folk are done wrong like that.  Hope they catch that guy; he needs to be taken behind the barn and slapped silly.  Cruel and unusual?  Nah, it fits his stupidity and tryin’ to take something that ain’t his.  ‘Course most likely that wouldn’t do him any good.  Very little rehabilitation or reform…that is, unless they find the Lord.
     Sure was a busy week.  Lots of errands needed to be run, chores around the homestead.  Also pressin’ news that I won’t go into, but life hits hard sometimes.  Nah, don’t be a-worryin’, none of the pressin’ news hit us directly, but it shor does make a body wonder what’s happenin’.  But in spite of all the business, we are here now, and, oh Pard, I didn’t mean for yur cup to go dry.  Don’t want that fine brew to go to waste…  hmmm, good thing coffee ain’t fattenin’, that is unless yuh start to fancyin’ it all up, addin’ frills to it.
     Like I was a-sayin’, it was a busy week, but the missus and I did our civic duty.  We got out an’ voted.  Listen, and I mean listen tight!  Yuh best be votin’!  This election is one of the most crucial in our history.  Lots at stake, part of it is the soul of America.  There’s plenty of evil out there that want to tear the heart from this great country.  Whether they realize it or not, they’re doin’ the devil’s biddin’.  Ahh, but Pard, we know what the eternal result’s gonna be.
     I see yuh’ve drunk yur fill, ’cause the pot’s empty.  Makes me smile to know that I’ve helped yuh get a good start to yur day.  Now mount up, check yur cinch first, and get on yur way.  Oh, Pard–don’t forget to vote!
      Vaya con Dios.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He accepted a cup of coffee from her, took a small sip of the scalding brew. The heat from the coffee felt good to his hands as he held the cup in both of them.” 

                    –C. Wayne Winkle  (Yancey’s Ride)
 
Mediocrity!  I hate that word, always have.  When I was in the military one of the slogans was, “Close enough for government work.”  But no, close enough doesn’t make it, Pard.  Think of those packin’ parachutes–close enough.  Or ammunition, the powder is close enough to bein’ a full load, or puttin’ fuel in a vehicle or plane, that’s close enough, it’s almost full.  
     Sorry for my rantin’ this early, Pard.  Let’s get to the important stuff–a cup of hot, steamin’, black coffee.  Just right to make the ol’ gizzard light up.  Perhaps I was just raised to do a good job, and add to that the words of that ol’ Apostle, “do all as unto the Lord.”  Let me back up, soon as I take a deep swaller of this elixir.  Ahhh…  The missus and I had to drive an hour away to get labs done for our doctor’s appointments next week.  When we got into the lab, we were told by the technician that the doctor had not sent in the request.  An hour’s drive, an appointment comin’ up, and no request for blood work.  It almost jerked my jaws, but to what use?  
     Maybe, but I doubt it, that those in the doctor’s office responsible for sending in the lab request aren’t considered professionals.  But still, they represent the doctor, and what about their responsibility?  I know there are good doctors out there, and they do marvelous things, but they depend almost solely on lab reports.  They don’t even listen to yur heart to see if it’s still tickin’ or on beat.  What happens if yur havin’ local surgery, say like I did a couple of years ago with the removal of cataracts and the doctor says “Oops” or “close enough for medical work.”
     I need another cup before goin’ on.  Reminds me of the old story, “for want of a nail.”  A  farrier tried to save on nails and slighted the shoe one, it came off on a very important mission and for want of a nail the kingdom was lost.  Mediocrity, half-heartedness, ho-hum attitude–that’s part of what’s plaguin’ our country.  Don’t bother me with the details, just give me my paycheck.
     One more cup and the pot will be nigh empty.  Time for one more spiel b’for yuh have to leave.  I’m sure glad the Lord yelled out, “It is finished!” on the cross.  He hung on despite the pain and ridicule to take on the sins of mankind.  He faced the greatest spiritual battle anyone could face.  It wasn’t half-hearted; it wasn’t just “good enough,” but it was finished, done right, complete.  Makes me want to clog in the kitchen.  
     We drank that pot dry in a hurry, I had more to say, but reckon it’ll wait for another time.  Yuh best be on yur way.  Go ahead an’ waddle to yur hoss, yeah, I noticed it, too many chocolates for Valentines.  That bein’ said, yuh gotta make sure yuh check that cinch.  That extry weight yur carryin’ might do yuh in.
        Vaya con Dios.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He got up and walked to the table where the coffeepot was and poured himself a fresh cup. Then he walked back to his desk and sat down again.” 

                    –Robert J. Thomas  (The Reckoning)
 
Reckon it’s time for some coffee since yuh finally showed up.  I’ve been patiently waitin’ for yuh.  Grab a cup, yuh know where they are, and while yur there bring over that pot and fill mine up again.  I’ve already a cup or two ahead of you this mornin’.
       Pard, let me tell yuh, some things just jerk my jaws.  I don’t know much ’bout this Toby Keith; only could tell yuh a couple of his songs, but when folks go to cheerin’ the death of someone there’s a problem.  Why should I be surprised though?  That’s the kind of people that are out there–the same type that stoned the prophets.  I’ve been readin’ about ol’ Jeremiah and the time of the captivity of Judah.  When you read all the things they did, no wonder God brought judgment to them.  
       Hananiah, who proclaimed to be the true prophet and not Jeremiah said that things were all hunky-dory.  God wouldn’t judge Judah and that the people should just go along.  But they were already far gone.  The King had not worshiped Yahweh or if he did he mixed it with the religion of the Canaanites.  Jehoiakim was a tyrant, who profaned the Word of the Lord.  He was a violent man, a man who did not fear God, a man who tattooed his body in defiance of God’s Word, and burned the prophecy of Jeremiah.  He allowed the worship of false gods in the land, and even the practice of baby sacrifice to those gods.
       Sorry, Pard, didn’t mean to make yur coffee spoil in yur gizzard, but it was a bad time for Judah.  But readin’ this has got me to ponderin’ some.  We have a person who heads our government who could care less about the Word of God.  He would allow baby sacrifice in the form of abortion.  Oh, it may not be Molech, Dagon, or Baal, but it is to the sacrifice of self and humanism.  Pard, let me tell it to yuh straight and yuh can chew on it for a spell–this country has been warned about it’s turnin’ away from God.  It can’t continue to be the country that God ordained it to be if it continues on this chosen course.  Again, when people cheer over the death of a man there is something wrong with the morals of those people.  
       There, I’ve said all I’m goin’ to say on the matter–at least for this Saturday.  If’n yuh left any coffee in the pot, I reckon I’ll stroll into the office or my chair and ponder some.  Yuh watch yur step and surroundin’s for there’s folks that just might smile if’n they see yuh fallin’ off yur horse ’cause yuh didn’t check yur cinch.  Be careful, be ready, and hang on tight.
        Vaya con Dios.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The coffeepot was hot. The fire burned low, but there was a good bed of coals. He lifted the lid on the stove and added a few sticks from the woodbox. Then he took a cup, filled it with coffee, and went to the table.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Borden Chantry)
 
Is the weather suitin’ yuh now?  Well, no matter the weather, come on in an’ we’ll have some coffee together.  Pard, we’ve gone from a long, hot, dry summer to a really cold spell, then to a week of rain, where it’s now finally settlin’ down to some wonderful weather.  But don’t be countin’ on the weatherman.  I used to say that was the only job where people were paid to lie, but I’ve added a few more to the list.  Listen, don’t even be a-believin’ ol’ Punxsatawny Phil.  The furry booger has been know to lie.
       But whatever the weather, the pot’s on the stove, an’ if’n yur real nice, I’ll brew up some fresh an’ not give yuh the mornin’ leftovers.  Good coffee this mornin’!  Pard, I got up this mornin’, made the coffee, then sat myself down in my readin’ chair to watch gray light begin to appear.  I was a-sittin’ and a-contemplatin’ when I thought I heard horses movin’ into that heavenly corral.  Yuh think it could’ve been the foreman, Michael, telling Gabriel and the other angel hands to go gather up the herd?  So I contemplated that waitin’ for the sun to rise up through the trees.
       Then I started to ponder on the goodness of the Lord.  My, yuh sure don’t have to look far to see His goodness.  Take a deep swaller, an’ then tell me of God’s goodness.  He made the bean to grow on a bush, gave someone the work to pick them.  Somewhere’s down the line they were roasted just for you and me, then I finally brewed it up this mornin’.  God is good an’ that’s just a simple example.  Why, I looked in the mirror shavin’ yesterday and saw the lines of age etched on my face.  Some folk never get to be this old, so the Lord is good.  An’ those lines, well, Pard, that’s just experience showin’ through.  Yep, sure beholdin’ to the Lord for all His goodness to me all through the years.  Sorry, Pard, didn’t mean to go gettin’ sentimental on yuh.
       Pot’s empty, that means it’s time for yuh to be moseyin’ on down the road.  The Lord willin’ the coffee’ll be on for yuh next Saturday.  Yuh be havin’ a good week…say, see that’s another example of the goodness of God.  If’n we have a day in front of us it’s due to His goodness, an’ Pard, beyond that His mercies are new every mornin’.  Yuh stay safe, keep yur gun ready and yur life prayed up, an’ Pard, don’t forget to check yur cinch.  Don’t be fallin’ on yur noggin’ this early in the year.
        Vaya con Dios.