Long and long ago, when I was a young man, I was in a little band for a couple of
months, with Will Spires and Frannie.   We were sometimes called "The Agoura
Friends of Old Time Music" but I much preferred "The Chili Pepper Kids".
Will and Frannie played fiddle and guitar, and sang sweet harmonies.  I played
jaw harp, triangle, and hat.  In our travels Will brought us to a strange and
wonderful place called Sweets Mill, and though we were only there a couple of
days I knew it was my home and I had to return.  I think at that moment my
plan to have a Turkish Coffee House sprang into being.
 
The next spring, as I had come into a little money, I invested it in a 56 Dodge
station wagon, some Turkish Coffee, a bunch of Ibriks- Turkish Coffee pots-
and a bunch of little tea cups I acquired in LA Japantown. I packed it all, with
my tent made of rags and my goose down feather bed, into the wagon, and
headed up to the Mill.  Virgil, on whom be peace, welcomed me, and so I set up
my tent, dug the fire pit, and hung out my menu.  It was simple enough: Turkish
Coffee 25 cents - the first one's free. (I would sell one of the cups for a quarter
and fill it with the first Turkish.}  I believe I named the place The Sign of the
Elephant. I wasn't the Mullah's yet.
 
On the first day of business I matched my customers cup for cup until I'd drunk
maybe 40 cups of the stuff. I learned a lesson that day to be sure.
 
 
I'd been open the better part of a week when some folks came by and asked for
hot water.  Sure, I said, here you go.  They made some Continental Flavored
Instant Coffee and went over to a corner to drink it.  And that is when I found
my second menu item: Hot Water 50 cents.  For awhile it was my most expensive
item, but the price hasn't changed in over 20 years.
 
Sometimes I still long for those simple days.
 
Bless you all,
  Don Brown