What's in a cup

I like to go to the local charity shop and look for cheap treasures that I will bring home, leave in a bag on the floor, and forget about for 6-10 months.

A few weeks ago I found this:

I know this doesn't look like much, but it's the teacup version of my dad's coffee cup (which he only uses for tea). To be more specific, this is "Dad's Mug". Same pattern. Same maker. Same texture. Same heft. Same heart.

It's like a nostalgia bomb, discovered 1,000 miles away from the kitchen of my youth. For 75 cents.

When I use it I can quietly hear my dad telling me not to leave it on the counter.