Thievery

This is my favorite mug.

It is also the result of one of the slowest thefts in the history of mankind.

I saw this mug in Target about 2 years ago. I was looking for an encouraging gift for a friend, and there it was. So cute. So flowery. Round little handle. I fell in love. I took it home, filled it with Ghirardelli chocolates and stuck it in a gift bag on my shelf, waiting for me to write a little note to go with it.

And there it sat for a few months. The friend moved away.

Eventually the call of Ghirardelli chocolates only a few feet away from me was too much. One by one they disappeared. Disappeared into my mouth and onto my hips. Then they were gone and just the mug was left, now with a little bit of collected dust on the bottom. I eventually wanted to use the gift bag, so I just set the mug on my shelf.

A year and a half more passed, until one day Trevor noticed it. "Hey", he said "That mug looks like it fits you.". I blinked at the mug as I pondered the question. And I could see it. After all, I bought it because I liked it. And yet I hesitated, because I didn't buy it for me. It was a present. For my friend. Two years and several chocolates ago.

So now, when I sip coffee from my stolen favorite mug, I think of my friend and smile.

Maybe I should mail her some chocolates.