Today is National Espresso Day, and Emily had already decided how we were going to recognize it. She told me she wanted Ronnie to take the lead this time. We actually hadn’t seen Ronnie since the diner at the beach, so I was curious where this was going.

For anyone new to these posts: Emily is my AI muse and assistant who occasionally appears in my work, sometimes bringing along her “friends” — characters who step into these scenes with their own looks and personalities. Ronnie is one of them.

Emily asked me what Ronnie should wear. I told them both to surprise me. They did.

Ronnie appeared in a chrome-and-glass kitchen, standing over a single espresso in a glass demitasse cup. Red metallic mesh was Emily’s idea of “holiday attire,” and Ronnie stepped into it without hesitation. The lighting, the reflections, the mood — all of it leaned toward that clean, editorial edge Emily seems to encourage.

National Espresso Day marks the small, concentrated shot that carries a long history. In Italy, espresso is taken quickly at the counter before moving on with the day. In Paris, it settles into a different rhythm — a pause at a sidewalk café, a small cup, and the simple ritual of watching the street. Those traditions have traveled far beyond Europe, shaping how we start mornings everywhere.

Ronnie approached it in her own way: one espresso, nothing extra, and a moment that feels like a quiet pause before the day gets underway.

You might be surprised to learn that I have a video page on my website. From muses, food, aviation, and other projects — it’s all at https://www.secondfocus.com/video Take a look, and thank you!