Mornings: A Love/Hate Relationship

Today I woke up on schedule at 9:30 a.m. to the sound of my alarm chiming. You may think that it sounds ridiculous that I have to set an alarm for that late in the morning, but in my defense, I only work nights and come home really late. Since my workday tends to begin somewhere around 3:00 in the afternoon, it is my free time every morning that is so sacred to me.

For a long time, I didn’t set an alarm. I would sleep in and wake up naturally around 10:15 a.m. I would stumble around slowly in a groggy haze.  I can get up and go in the morning if I must, but I would rather NOT. For those of you who do, I salute you! Anyway, I have recently decided to maximize my time in the mornings, so I set an alarm. It is the time I have to relax, write and drink my favorite beverage of the day... coffee!

I should make something very clear: I love mornings, but I am not a morning person.

In fact, I would rather not operate heavy machinery, be required to communicate in any way shape or form, or even be remotely productive before I've at least had one cup of coffee.  Coffee. Yes. Let's talk about coffee. 

I love coffee. I love the way the grounds smell when you open the bag and how they sound as they fall into the basket, and the shear magic of the crackling sound the machine makes when the brew cycle is nearly complete.  I am also obsessed with coffee cups.  And it is a well-known fact that I have way too many.  

But my favorite thing about coffee and mornings are the people I get to share them with.  Oh wow, that could sound bad.  I should clarify... the family, friends and loved ones I have shared my mornings with over the years (my dogs included).  My mom and I love our coffee time in the mornings. And my dad has had a ritual for many years of making lattes at home every single day. He even has special ear muffs that block the shrilling sound of the espresso machine. 

But I especially love spending mornings with friends over a cup of coffee.  Back in Nashville, one of my best friends lived around the corner from me.  From time to time she would come over for coffee.  Both of us literally rolled out of bed. She would show up to the front door, hair piled loosely on top of her head, no make up and still in her pajamas complete with slippers. The same for me. 

We would talk bout the latest in our lives.  We would just hang out.  And it's probably what I miss the most since leaving Nashville. I think she misses it as much as I do.  For my birthday, she sent me a coffee mug that has pictures of the two of us on it.  It's now my very favorite cup and I am sipping from it at this very moment. And when we miss each other too much, we set up a Skype & coffee date.  

Since I have been living Up North for the summer, it is my older brother who currently shares this morning ritual with me. He is two years older and one of my best friends.  It's funny how he never really drank coffee every morning until I moved in with him.  He said he otherwise wouldn't drink it if it weren't for me. And now, it's our special thing.  He jokes about how I won't come out of my room until the aroma of freshly brewed coffee seeps under my door. 

And when I am alone, which is the reality for me most of the time, coffee every morning is my time to be totally selfish.  It's like a hot stone massage for my brain. As I ease into the morning, the creative synapses begin to fire and I feel the nerve endings in my fingertips twitch, ready to write. 

One day I suspect, this time will fall away.  If I am lucky, there will be a passion of career and possibly a family of my own to wake up to.  I won't be quite as selfish with my morning ritual I imagine. But until then, this is a luxury I can afford.  

So I will steal this time while I can...  sipping my favorite beverage. And I will spend my favorite time with you.

Today:

Hot Coffee
with 1 oz Whisper Creek Tennessee Sweet Cream Whiskey