December 5, 2008

Good Morning,

It is five a.m. on this brisk December day. While writing this I am sipping on a steamy hot cup of dark roasted Seaport Coffee. Ahh, ca c’est bon!

My name is Revola LaBlanc – Carrire and I live near Sulphur, LA. I just celebrated my birthdate – a cool 69!

If I may, I would like to reminisce and share a little story with you.

When I was 9 we lived in a town called Crowley, LA. My Mom and Dad were early risers – up at 5 every morning. Mom had a grocery store she opened at 6a.m. The north outside wall was pained in a huge Seaport coffee sign. Dad would go out to piddle in his garden until he left for his job at 7.

In order to get up by five, they needed a start cup of coffee. That’s where I come in. At four Dad would yell out to me: “Cher, c’est l’heure pour faire du café.” Grudgingly I would crawl out from under the warm covers complaining to myself in soft, quiet whispers. I certainly did not voice my dissatisfaction aloud! At that time, the chain of command was from parent to child. No rebuttals! I thought they were cruel to have me get up so early. I just knew all of my friends were all snugly and warm in their beds.

We used a Cajun drip coffee pot – grigue a café coule. It had a small cloth bag that held the ground-up coffee beans. In a pot, the water was brought to a rolling boil, then I would pour one tablespoonful at a time over the coffee. The water had to drip completely before I could add another spoonful. It took about thirty minutes and was it stout!! I sweetened it in the pot, testing to be sure it was sweet enough (That’s when I began to like that taste), then serve it in a demi-tasse to my Mom and Dad in bed. They called this a ‘”ti geut de café” (a little taste of coffee). They would take sips, smack their lips and breathe a blissful “Ahh ca c’est bon!” Their delight made early mornings worthwhile. They loved their Seaport Coffee – dark roast. No other coffee would do.

I still get up at four and am grateful my parents gave me this gift.

I also still drink their favorite coffee – Seaport – dark roast. No other coffee will do.

Thanks for the memories,
Revola
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