One Cup To-Go

1. One Cup To-Go By: Brooke Laughlin

2. Grande, white chocolate mocha with extra whip, I reply in the voice box as I pull around my beloved second home: Starbucks. This is the home of my addiction. I don’t believe my coffee addiction was made by choice, but rather by overexposure.

3. I am always amused by the upbeat energy of the workers and how well they remember the happenings in each person’s life. I walk into Starbucks not feeling like a customer, but as a friend.

4. White chocolate mocha in hand, I would go to study groups for the next big AP Biology exam. I would meet my best friend there for those tough advice talks that only someone close to you can give.

5. There are a number of places I could have chosen to meet at for these occurrences, however, I feel as though I achieve my best and communicate the most over this product at a simple wooden table.

6. Through my drink, I find empowerment and a sense of security that one may only find in participating in sports or listening to music. I find myself engulfed in that grande cup as my outlet, as well as a passage.

7. A simple drink can characterize my connection with my mother. No matter where we are or what we are doing; we always find the time to make our way to grab a cup and chat.

8. As for my sister, she can take the credit for familiarizing me with the nature of Starbucks. I would ask what she was drinking and she would reply, “venti iced coffee, black, no sugar or cream, with an extra shot of espresso.”

9. Unbeknownst to me, I grew up with the terminology of a second language.

10. Seeing as I find my comfort within this commercial drink world, I wish I could understand life in the sense of frappes and lattes. However, each individual is an atypical order, some with an extra shot of espresso and others plain, strong coffee.

11. I suppose its up to us to experiment with different drinks because sticking with one drink, as “our drink”, may not represent us entirely. I may bounce from a soothing white chocolate mocha, to a fiery pumpkin spice latte. If we never try something new, then we’ll miss out on a new delight in life. Just like experimentation, we need to be open to new people and ideas. I always try to go beyond my comfort zone and explore options that I may not have seen desirable before.

12. Whenever you find yourself driving past a Starbucks, consider what makes the line you see so long. Is there another language you are mission out on? Is there another meaning behind the scolding to-go cup?

13. These drinks could mean a myriad of meanings to any individual, but to me it’s a way of life, a way of living, communicating, and to assist my writing through those late school nights.

14. Works Cited