I hadn’t had a drop of the stuff in a couple of days. Told myself I didn’t need it, that I could stop anytime I wanted to. Besides, I finished off the last of what I had on hand on Monday, and forgot to go out for more. When I realized I didn’t have any yesterday, I took it as an opportunity to prove that I didn’t have to have it.
Who was I trying to fool?
Judy was still asleep, so I made my way quietly out of the bedroom this morning, closing the door behind me. As I pulled a cup off the shelf, I said to myself “it’s OK - one little cup won’t hurt.” I reached into the back of another cupboard, and found a little stash I had put away in case of an emergency. I thought that this qualified.
As I poured the cup, my hands were trembling slightly. I didn’t notice at first, but I could see the liquid in the cup sliding back and forth, like a series of little waves.
When I finished pouring, I stared down at the full mug for a moment, then leaned down to breathe it in. The smell knocked me back for a moment, but it passed. I lifted the cup to my lips and slowly took a swig, letting the liquid swirl around in my mouth - side, side, around my gums, under my tongue - and finally let it slide down the back of my tongue and into my throat. I closed my eyes for a moment, having forgotten how good it felt.
Yeah, that was a good cup of coffee this morning.
Comments
5 Comments
Once you’ve toweled yourself off, can you let me know which brand of coffee that was?
Posted March 9, 2005 at 12:04 pm by Les .
bry, depriving yourself of coffee is damned silly. why, man? why!?!?!
it isn’t harmful to you or anyone else (save the poor guatemalans who have to pick the beans for slave wages–but just buy “fair trade” coffee or something. ummmm… i can taste the justice thinking about it!).
seriously, what would drive you renounce the good juice? lent? what?
do yourself a favor and take a mocha capuccino latte espresso bath later.
Posted March 9, 2005 at 12:33 pm by shux .
Just for the record, it was a packet of pre-ground “lighthouse blend” from the door county coffee company.
http://www.doorcountycoffee.com
Posted March 9, 2005 at 12:37 pm by Bryan Buchs .
The only coffee I’ve ever sworn off is the motor oil they make here at the paper. Even the first cup out of the pot tastes like ass.
Also, I’m sure Door County Coffee appreciates your handy listing of their Web site address. But, “lighthouse blend” doesn’t sound like it tastes quite bold enough to do the trick. Do they make something called “Thor’s Hammer” or “Widowmaker Blend”?
By the way, until you mentioned the part about Judy still being asleep, I thought this post was about your taste for scotch.
Posted March 9, 2005 at 1:19 pm by Jim .
jim, they have a “death’s door blend” which sounds creepy. and then there’s the “nicaraguan”–god knows shit was crazy there in the ’80s. but somehow the “candy cane” blend takes the edge away.
oh and i figured the post was about foot porn or coffee. the “cup” / “cupboard” part gave it away.
Posted March 9, 2005 at 1:42 pm by shux .