Coffee, Tea, or Me?

I have a confession to make.

I am ADDICTED to coffee.

There I said it. People would say that is the first step in the road to recovery. Admitting you have a problem and then seeking the help you need to overcome it. But I have to admit, I don't want to be fixed.

My obsession with coffee started when I was about 5 years old. Aghast! Five?!?!! Yes, that early. My parents have always been avid coffee drinkers. They can not start their day without a freshly brewed cup o' joe. I remember sitting my parents lap as a little girl and shyly asking for a taste of what they were drinking. To many wee ones, the bitter taste would immediately bring forth a nose wrinkly declaration of "Yuck, gross!" But I fear, that was not my reaction. I looked up into my mother's eyes with a twinkle that proclaimed, this is tasty! It was then that my fondness of coffee was born.

At that young age my mother gave me half of a demi cup full of cafe au lait. I would dip Ritz crackers into it and have it for breakfast on certain days. I gradually started drinking more and more. Of course this meant that by the time I went to University....where most students would use coffee to keep them up in order to study, I had to bypass the regular stuff and join the big league and request mine with a double shot of espresso. It was around this time that Starbucks started showing up in every street corner in NYC and I was in heaven. My coffee poison of choice? Caramel Macchiato.

I suppose many would say it is due to this consumption that I live up to my nickname of "The Energizer Bunny". I beg to differ. I think I am just naturally predisposed to having the knack of multi-tasking. Personally, I don't think coffee gives me a jolt of energy. Quite frankly, I think it has the opposite affect. I feel it calms me. Not only does it warm me up, drinking it gives me a sense of relaxation. I take my time to savor and enjoy it and everything is well in the world.

Christmas this year brought me a Keurig gourmet coffee maker. I must say, it is the best present I have ever received. It has only been 10 days since I first used it, but I have already tried Breakfast Blend, French Vanilla, and Butter Toffee. I've tried it with flavored creamers as well. I can safely say, this is one present that will truly be used daily.

Who needs a ten step program for recovery when it comes to coffee? Not me!