Madison Living
The Mugs serve up much more than coffee
Originally only men, “The Mugs” coffee group has evolved into weekly fellowship open
to anyone who enjoys lively conversation and lots of coffee.
In November 2006, five men first met when Sunday School teacher Gene Strickland
retired at Trinity Baptist Church and suggested meeting for breakfast at Chick-fil-A on
Wednesdays. “No women allowed,” Mugs charter member Roma Wing said. “They
needed around-the-water-cooler talk (not locker room).” More men joined and met through Christmas 2007. However, John Wing, Roma’s husband, told the group he couldn’t attend any longer. He wouldn’t allow Roma to use their van’s chair lift. John was dealing with horrendous pain and other problems from Post Polio Syndrome. John’s problems resulted from overcompensation of unaffected body parts doing work of afflicted parts, Roma said. John’s shoulders were depleted from overuse; he could no longer compensate for total paralysis in
the legs.However, the men refused to let John drop out. In January 2008, the men ar
rived at the Wings’ home with coffee and breakfast, ready to meet. The next week Virginia Stone arrived to keep company with Roma. Another wife arrived the next week. The group morphed into a mixed gathering. Men gathered in the kitchen, while the women occupied the living room, “sitting in a circle for easy chatter,” Roma said. Members brought their own coffee mugs. “This ‘fluid’ group is alwa ys traveling and brought mugs from Germany, Scotland, Dominican Republic, Alaska, national parks, colleges and even to ‘Hell and Back,'” Roma said. Some mugs boasted jokes like “Praise the Lard” and “Genuine Antique Person.” “For want of a name, I christened us ‘The Mugs,'” Roma said. No agenda, no officers. Each person makes it work. Men discuss computer problems, history, childhood memories, music and cars. “We gals never need a reason to talk,” Roma said. Mostly readers, Mugs members discuss and swap books. They knit, do needlepoint and quilt. They discuss America’s future. Women rotate cooking favorite meals like cheesy grits, monkey bread, sausage casseroles, fruit and hash browns and plenty of coffee. On Mondays, Roma emails a wacky cartoon and silly poem as notice to the cooks and setup people. “I love having everyone here and sharing my silly second-grade level poetry.” Roma said their house is a “gift” that accommodates everyone needing easy accessibility after breaking a limb or surgery. Strictly a fellowship group, Mugs doesn’t have Bible study. All have some connection with Trinity, but Methodist and Catholic couples also attend. Their record attendance has been 21 people. “All have been marri ed 50 years (except for two twice-widowed, and the sum of years equals 50). I’m the matriarch at 85 years old,” Roma said. Two young, honorary members sometimes visit.
Couples have lived in Saudi Arabia, the Caribbean and Hawaii, with careers from aerospace engineering to working in“Bear” Bryant’s office. Several members volunteer on missions, so Mugs collects clothing for students in the Dominican Republic and underwear for imprisoned women in Central America. They gather plastic bags for making mats for the homeless. “One of the last things John said to me on the night of his massive stroke on our 59th anniversary was, ‘I didn’t know before how much I needed the Mugs.’ It was such a fitting farewell,” Roma said. “Continuation of this group is such a wonderful tribute to John and Lynn Taylor who were there at the beginning 10 years ago, two amazing Christian men held in our memories each week. ” Charter Mugs members are Bill and Virginia Stone, Gene and Amanda Strickland, Helen Taylor, Dan and Dannie Walther and Roma Wing. Other members are Chris and Charlene Christensen, Jean Mabury, Mike Killian, Walter and Janice Kantmann, Shirley Webb, Ernie and Georgette Legere and Woody and Thelma Westmore. Honorary members are Yvonne Espy and Rebecca Boggs.
