CuppaJoe

Coffee.

Copious amounts of coffee.

It not just improves my life, but the quality of the lives of everyone around me.

I have been drinking the magic bean juice since I was eight years old. I clearly remember my dad offering me up a cup one morning. He had just made one for himself, but a neighbor called and needed his help with something. As a product of the Great Depression, he didn’t waste a thing.

“It’s going to be too hot,” I protested.

“I’ll put some milk and sugar in it.“

I took a sip… Yum!

First, I would only drink it on the weekends. When summer came, I started drinking a cup every morning. Adults were quite surprised to see someone not even out of elementary school sporting a big mug of the delectable caffeinated beverage.

“Aren’t you worried it’ll affect your health?“

They would direct that question more to my folks, but I would pipe up and say, “Yeah, I hear it stunts your growth.“

I was 5’5″ by fifth grade, the tallest in my class. The irony was almost as delicious as the java.

I was twelve, I switched to black. I mean, I was almost a teenager! I couldn’t drink coffee with all that baby stuff in it!

Flash-forward to today – I’m fine. I actually have more of an issue with low blood pressure. It’s very possible coffee is what has kept me alive.

Now I do have other habits that I really enjoy. I practice my double bass almost every morning. I take walks, I meditate. All these things improve my life in many ways, but I’m not nearly as consistent with these things as I am with my morning cup of joe.

Here’s to the caffeine achievers!