Personalized Coffee Mugs – Two Mugs, One Lifelong Bond

Personalized coffee mugs are something you're certainly familiar with; perhaps you have some yourself which you've been given over the years. I have a deep personal connection with a few of these mugs in particular. They have a way of really touching you in a way few other gifts can. I'd like to tell you a little more about why I feel so strongly about these mugs.

You see, about 8 years ago, on my 40th birthday, my father purchased me a personalized coffee mug for my big day. That Christmas I bought my dad one of these mugs as well. I can still remember my birthday when I opened up my mug. It said "Happy Birthday" and had a picture of my dad on it. That mug became one of my most cherished possessions.

Each morning when I went to have my coffee, I'd take my personalized photo mug down out of the cabinet and have my morning coffee. My father and I live quite a long ways apart from each other, but each morning I felt close to him as I enjoyed my coffee. I'd look at his face on the mug and remember happy times together when I was a kid. Somehow I felt that I got to talk to him each day.

So that's why I knew that a personalized coffee mug was the right gift for my mom's birthday that year (I also got one for my Dad that Christmas). She was thrilled when she unwrapped it and saw my picture on the mug and she called to let me know how much she liked the not I'd put inside telling her how much I loved the mug and hoped she'd enjoy hers just as much.

Soon I found out that dad was doing the same thing I was. Each morning he'd also use his mug with my picture. Even though we lived about 1000 miles apart, it was like we were having coffee together. Sometimes I'd even find myself talking to the mug, just like dad was there with me.

My dad passed about six months ago now and when I went back to St. Louis to see my mom, she told me that there was something which he'd wanted me to have. She went and retrieved the mug and I'll admit I got a little misty eyed when I saw how much that mug had been used for all of those years. Seems dad had loved his mug just like I had mine.

I have both mugs in my cupboard now, where they sit right next to each other. Every morning when I have my coffee, I still use the mug my mom gave me and I get the other out as well. I can't stand the thought of the two mugs being apart. It feels like she's right there with me in the mornings - and sometimes I call my dad as I have my coffee and there we are, having coffee together again after all these years.

April 26 2009 | coffee | No Comments »