Back in the Saddle: The Frauenhuber

I'm sure at least three of you were wondering at the lack of a Father's Day post last week...and subsequently my ever-lauded Sunday coffee break, but the truth is that there wasn't much to tell. It was Fathers Day, so I sacrificed (ha!) my outing in favor of staying in with the family. We spent the day hanging out together, which is, by far, our favorite activity. After the girls went to sleep that night, I convinced John to pop down to the Irish pub a few blocks from us to watch the football match with a Guinness in hand. What else could a hard working Papa ask for, eh?

The view from my seat

But this week, I was back to my old ways. I headed out a bit later than usual (this is a trend I'm noticing), having set my mind on a cup of Joe in Vienna's oldest coffee house: Cafe Frauenhuber. Details on this are sketchy and I have a tendency to shy away from any place boasting such a difinative title, but this place garners street cred for having hosted Mozart's last public performance in 1791. Just a few blocks from the Staatsoper and down an unassuming side street sits Cafe Frauenhuber--proudly displaying it's existence to the world. The outdoor seating was absolutely choking the sidewalk when I arrived, so I opted for a seat indoors. And I'm glad of it. The interior is richly decorated with crimson coushioned seats and elegant chandeliers. On the walls hang prints of the city scape from days gone by. Glass cabinets dispersed throughout the Cafe display elegant place settings and coffee accoutrement. overall, one can surely feel the age and the pride of this establishment. My großer mocca, although I paid for it later, was superior and I'm still stubbornly trying to make myself like Sacher torte even though next time I think I'd rather go for some strudel.

Working on immunity to cake and coffee...or something like that

The indoor seating was pleasantly deserted and I settled into my seat, doing my best to activate my relaxation response to counteract how much coffee and sugar I was consuming. Now that I'm making a conscious effort to control my blood sugar, I'm starting to view caffeine and sweets as poison. Can't I just build up an immunity like The Dread Pirate Roberts did with Iocane powder?! The humanity!

But in all seriousness, it is worth dealing with the shakes one day a week to sit in silence, wondering at the world going by--to truly evaluate my inner-most thoughts without interruption. Herr Obers are good about that; they wouldn't dream of disrupting my withdrawn reverie with something so silly as clearing an empty plate. Truly, the Viennese coffee house is a sanctuary for someone like me.

This was no street performer...it was a free concert

Today, I brush aside the hectic, distracting thoughts, and instead, center my attention on the one who created me.  These afternoons are precious because I know I have carved out time to commune with Him. And He speaks to me: I am with you. Always. Focus on ME. I spend my time letting those words reverberate through my soul before leaving my place of worship, carrying Him with me in my heart.

He was with me when I stopped to listen to an amazing pianist on Kartnersrasse...who knows how long I lingered--He was there.  And He was with me when I entered Stephansdom for the twenty-something time...to see and hear something I hadn't before; Sunday evening mass was being held and He gave me comfort in understanding His words of scripture even though they were spoken in a foreign tongue.  And He was surely with me as I came home to running shouts of "Mama! Mama!! Mama's home!!!"

A gathering for mass at Stephansdom

Now here I am, beginning a new week, focused on Him. May my every thought be tied back to His loving presence. He is with me always--May He also be with you.