D gave me a mug like this last year for my birthday. I took that mug to campus every single day. It was filled with coffee in the morning, water during the day, and often tea just prior to evening classes.

Then, I took it to work and forgot it there. There was a water leak overnight, and the mug was lost in the resultant flood.

It took me over six months to make it to the Birchwood to get a new one. Granted, the Birchwood doesn’t have as many vegan and vegetarian items as they used to. This was (sadly) a conscious decision on their part. But I liked the colors and the artwork, and now it’s just all imbued with emotional associations.

Plus they did have a pear and parsnip vegan sandwich the last time I was there.