GUEST OPINION

I love the snow, so on the rare occasion it comes my way, I make sure to enjoy it to the fullest of my ability. Such was my thinking one day a few years ago when a snowstorm blew into town and I went on a walk with my dad who happens to be at least as stubborn as myself.

 

We walked through town as those icy crystals pelted our faces in near whiteout conditions. Many would call us crazy for this, and some probably did, but we enjoyed every minute of it. The bitter cold, harsh wind, and trudging steps were merely ingredients for adventure.

 

When we eventually sought shelter, we found ourselves at 10/40 Coffee on the town square. Once furnished with hot drinks, we sat in the otherwise empty cafe and watched the snow as it continued to fall. Soft jazz played in the glow of gentle lights as we observed the occasional vehicle carefully make its way through the square.

 

I cherish this memory to this day as a moment of perfection in an imperfect world. At some point, I realized this experience is exactly what I've always imagined for the environment of a coffee shop, one which I've personally found missing from the more trendy locations.

 

Since that day, even though 10/40 moved to the other side of the square and my father has been unable to join me, I have replicated that experience twice. Once in a far calmer snowfall, and the other on a rainy day. I've sat there watching the leaves blow about on a blustery autumn day, looked up at a pristine blue sky, and of course satisfied my caffeine cravings, all from within a little cafe that is simple in its elegance.

I shall always look forward to the next adventure or brief respite that takes me to my favorite coffee shop, a rare place where I am able to find comfort and perhaps even a sense of belonging.

 

Dodge Merrin, West Plains