Why Coffee, part 2
Ol’ trusty for working men everywhere.
I love it when I go to a seminar…and there is coffee available for everyone.
Aside from my typical midday slump, when I’m on the receiving end of a “not-so-thrilling” brief, coffee is my pal of choice to have around. Heck, I’ll even drink lukewarm, burnt or weak coffee if none is the alternative option.
One of my favorite things in life is waking the family up before sunrise to start a road trip. I love sipping the good stuff while the sky turns purple, red, yellow, and then bright blue. Something stirs deep down when I see truckers on the move in those early hours, their rigs aglo with custom-placed orange lights, probably working through a thermos or a gas station brew.
For me, coffee is simply woven into just about everything in life. 80 years ago, I imagine this was tobacco for many people. Perhaps societally we are addictive in nature. I’d argue “the thing” today is phones and various forms of tech, but arguably coffee (and its heavily modified derivatives) are a close second.
When I started college, I was of the mindset that Starbucks, coffee shops, etc. with their “frou-frou” drinks were all ridiculous. By my senior year my housemate and I were powering down pots of “Chuck” (i.e. Chock Full of Nuts). By the time I was starting professional life in the Air Force after graduating college, I was all in. I spent many dollars and hours well over coffee with my soon to be wife. I’ll even admit to a mocha latte or two.
Fast forward a few years, I started to think about the high cost of getting coffee out and some of the political leanings of certain coffee behemoths. I have also wrestled with the reality that coffee consumption is addictive, and it’s become a crutch more often than not. The gallons of coffee I’ve consumed on deployment or in stints at the office would probably concern a cardiologist…and therefore I’ve had to check myself and my pursuit of the less-expensive black gold.
With some healthier perspective and moderation…on I will press.
-MJVW