Everyday Legacies

I am grateful for an engineer father who taught me: “There must be something around here I can use to fix this or to make it work better,” and an artist mother who taught me: “There must be something around here I can use to make this more beautiful or pleasing.” My manual, coffee bean grinder is an older model. It did not come with a lid to keep coffee bean pieces from jumping towards freedom as I grind them. For many years I would grind my beans carefully in an attempt to keep the number of escapees to a minimum. The other day as I removed the foil covering from a larger tub of yogurt it was as if my father, long gone now, were whispering in my ear, “This would work!” After cutting it down to size and making a slit to slide it around the center gear shaft, it did. It works perfectly. I can also wipe it clean when needed. Thanks Dad.

Cinse Bonino
2025