Ten years ago right now, February-April 2003, it was our senior year at Princeton and we were in the thick of thesis completion. My boyfriend (now husband) and I loved to meet on those crisp mornings at Panera in town, picking up Cinnamon Crunch bagels and hazelnut coffee then smuggling them into Firestone Library to get an early start on the day’s writing.
So no tradition is more meaningful or fun than taking our crew to the Panera up the road for Cinnamon Crunch bagels and coffee on a chilly morning.
Same great sugary carbs smothered in butter, same comforting coffee, same cozy booths. Just like in college.
Almost.
This past Saturday, I stepped up to the cashier and began placing our order. She started entering the items, one by one, then she stopped me:
“OK, you’re ordering from our catering menu, then?”
Me: “Catering?”
Cashier: “Yes, with that amount of bagels, you’re on the catering menu.”
Me: “Oh, OK yes thanks, whatever you recommend.”
I’m grateful for the small reminder of how blessed we have been… even in February!
