vehicle for happiness
Gloria (sophomore year roommate at Berkeley, not her real name) and I went to either the Alameda Island Drive-In or the Oakland Coliseum Drive-In one warm weekend night in 1984. We saw either Beat Street or Breakin’. We may or may not have had other friends with us. I may or may not have partaken of the huge amount of pot that was being smoked. I’m not being coy about that last bit; pot and I were never good friends and when I smoked I very often became the freaked-out friend — yes, that one, the one trembling in the corner.
On our way back to Berkeley, Gloria came to a screeching halt in the middle of the road for no reason whatsoever. That’s when we knew it was time to take a break before attempting more driving.
So we stopped at Denny’s in Oakland. We probably had breakfast and Cokes.
One thing I remember for sure is that I stole this mug.
Those that know me well know that I am persnickity about my coffee drinking. My mug needs to be small for my petite (but frequent) serving portions, and must fit well in my wee hands. It needs to look good, too. This Denny’s mug is perfect. Not only does it fit all my rules of size, shape and aesthetics, but it’s built sturdily and insulates well.
Denny, if you read this, thank you. I don’t steal any more, just to let you know. If you let me keep my mug, you will allow me to keep feeling a tiny burst of joy every morning when the coffee is hot and this mug is clean and ready to bring hot java happiness to my mouth.
Where’s your flicker set for stolen items?
Don’t we all have one (or three) items stolen in our early 20s? I have a bitchin’ black coffee cup from a radio station I listened to in college. So does my roommate.
They were donated for some sort of fundraiser and were supposed to be part of a set to be given away. But my roommate and I decided we needed them more than the potential recipient.
We marked that event on our calendar as “The Night of the Cups.”
I now use mine to hold pencils and pens.
Oh, I do so know what you mean when you described you favorite coffee mug. My favorite mug feels quite similar in my own hands. The thick, stone insulation and the solid, very present weight of an object of warm love.
An old roommate of mine collected Vintage Denny’s mugs.