Hot coco at Norms Diner

For the past 10 years, I would periodically (every 3 or 4 months) take my children, one at a time, to Norms.  We would sit at the counter and have hot coco.  I would do something strange and goofy like ask the waitress for a pen and write something on a napkin like a riddle or a trick question and I’d pass it to my child to write or color in something on the napkin.  Something else I did with my daughter once was just start laughing and laughing, she asked  what was I laughing at as she started to laugh herself, I laughed so hard that I couldn’t respond where she could figure out what I was saying.  Then I slowed down.  She asked again, “what’s so funny?” I responded, “I don’t know” and I’d bust up laughing again.  She started to laugh hard and we sat there laughing at each others laugh for 10 minutes.  My daughters laugh is the most beautiful sound in the world to me; it is the soundtrack to my clarity and purpose. I believe when I rest in peace, her laugh will always be with me.  

During our coco time I would get in the mindset that I was the same age as them and I’d enjoy the coco like I used to as a kid, whip cream mustaches, blowing bubbles with a straw and all.  They’d put their guards down and our conversations would be very different, enlightening and invaluable.  My kids began to ask to go to Norms for hot coco.  They wanted to eventually go together, so sometimes we all three would go.  We all love hot coco, but deep down I believe that hot coco anywhere else on the planet is not the same as hot coco at Norms.   

Child support- $850.  Norms hot coco- $3.50.  Quality time with children- Priceless…