When I was a youngin, I remember when I'd wake up to the smell of pancakes, bacon, and most noteably, coffee. Every morning my parents would have coffee going. I often took not-so-secret sips from my father's mug, before he left to a day of politely bossing people around (is such a thing even possible?). He owned his own construction company, made his way from small foreman to a big business man. The type who seemed to packaged with a briefcase and coffee cup by their side at all times. However, I didn't sip from the mug for the desire of the taste, but for the desire of drinking coffee. Such an elite drink it was made out to be. I never did have a preferancy for it, but it made me feel so mature to be drinking coffee.
How could they drink this nasty cup of brown muck? I always thought to myself. It baffled me how someone could drink the same liquid every day, the same time, the same amount. I had always assumed that it was just a grown up thing and you had to be a certain age to appreciate such a mature drink.. Boy, was I right.
Today, as I was waiting in the drive-thru at starbucks, I realized that I just had to have my coffee. It was a necessary thing for me to have this drink NOW. Not-so-surprisingly, this wasn't an unfamiliar feeling. I always get this way when I'm waiting for my coffee, all agitated and restless. That's when I noticed that I am an adult and that I can't live without my coffee. A weird feeling that was. Memories of sipping my business father's coffee and secretly making disgusted faces at the bitter taste came rushing to me, more fresh and warm than the aroma of my Pumpkin Spice Latte.
All that morning I pondered what coffee had tasted like when I was a child. Bitter, hot, dry, strong. Then I drank some more of my present coffee. Sweet, warm, refreshing, soothing. Have things changed with age? I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that something I so passionately despised as a child could be such an important factor in my day-to-day life as an adult.
And so I ask, is there anything very important in your life now that you hated when you were a child or maybe even a teenager?
