The rippled glass window panes in the double entry doors shook a little as we entered the dark paneled coffee shop and the lace at the windows fluttered every so slightly and I closed the door. My uncle lead me to his favorite table and we put our parcels at our feet as we sat down at the marble topped table for two; which stood in a row with others, lining the counter beyond where several people sat sipping their coffee.

My uncle was greeted like a long lost friend, instead of an every day customer by the waitress and she asked if he wanted "the usual" and he said, yes, and make that two, as my niece, Mari Susan, is having some too. The rain that encouraged our coming into the warmth began to blow against the windows and the hum of conversation flowed around us as we took off our wraps.

My uncle was one of my favorite people; who at 75, was as young as a new moon and I don't remember not knowing him. He contracted infantile paralysis as a three year old. His mother made sure that he received education and training to overcome the disabilities he was left with; although in those days it was common for children so inflicted to be sent to an institution. My uncle's left arm and leg were crippled and his voice box would not work well, when he spoke and often his speech sounded to some like a foreign language, but to those who knew him, he was not difficult to understand. He had worked many years and was one of the most widely beloved people I have known and whereever he went he would be greeted by friends, whether it was in California or Washington or Canada; he was always among friends. The waitress brought his cup of coffee and my hot chocolate and as we drank a little, I could feel the chill from our trip to the park begin to subside. Soon the waitress brought us our fresh apple pie served with a dollop of icecream.

Before I knew, it was time to go, for both the time passing and the rain was darkening the day. And we had one more stop to make before we got on the bus to go home. As we stood to get our coats on and gather our things, we heard many goodbyes and saw smiling faces turned our way; to the little, skinny girl with shining damp curls and too big brown eyes and the elderly man, dressed in his finest suit on an outing with his best girl. My uncle and I gave serious thought to our final stop as we left the little coffee shop; we were on our way to find one more Christmas present for my mother; a pretty rhinestone necklace or a pyrex bowl at the ten cents store down the hill.

I had fifteen more Christmas apple pies with my uncle and these 40 years later I can still feel the warmth of the coffee shop visit on that day and I am not sure yet, if it was the hot chocolate or being surrounded with love and sheltered from the rain that warmed me.

No matter, I can feel it still.

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