I had some fluky bug this spring that made my life interesting. Certain foods caused unpleasant symptoms. My heart fluttered, and I was weak. I wound up going off dairy and coffee because of the physical reactions they provoked. Dairy was bad enough, but about three days into the no caffeine, the withdrawal started.
I remember one luncheon meeting with a former work colleague. I was in a fog bank. I was there, but I was behind the fog. It was distinctly unpleasant. The fog was just my main complaint of no coffee. There was also the big hole it left in my morning routine. I’m sure many of you know the routine: brew coffee, sit down, sip, and plan out your day. Tea replaced the coffee, but I felt like a charity case subsisting on a lesser brew. Don’t get me wrong; I drink tea every day – just not first thing in the morning.
The changes in my lifestyle set off a spell of the blues. Would this thing ever end? Would I ever get back to normal? Well, eventually, after a few weeks, things settled a bit. I allow myself one single cup in the morning. And I am careful to savor every drop.
It may seem trite, but we can indeed take the basic pleasures of life for granted. For me, it was the morning coffee, but I am more appreciative now of other things that I could lose. Life is not as secure as our daily habits seem to imply it is.
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Had I read this post a decade ago, I would have said- What are you talking about? Just do the next right thing and you’re home free. Today? I no longer have that sense of surety. Nice write, Lou.
Thanks, Violet. Age tends to shake up our realities and send new messages we don’t necessarily want to hear.
You’re right about those messages.
I wasn’t even a real coffee drinker when I was horrified (reading Hildegard Knef’s first autobiography) that she and others on the run had to drink ersatz coffee (I think it was chicory) when they awoke. Yikes. Glad you’ve got the one cup, at least!
Morning coffee is fuel, my family knows not to talk to me during the first cup
The best way to start the day!
My friend said, “Don’t talk to Martha until she and Dusty (RIP a dog who used to lick the mostly cream off my empty cup) have had their coffee.” I had an aunt who was just the same without the dog.
Yes! I have mornings like that, too
😆 All of mine. But then I’m fine. With my friends developmentally disabled son I have a survival routine so he never knows that I’m barely functioning and a little fractious. He has his own blender at my house and his own Bialetti and he loves being independent. I just set it all out for him and observe so he doesn’t hurt himself. He wants a smoothie because I’m having one. It’s pretty cute.
You really are pretty special, Martha!
Does that mean you can sneak an extra piece of coffee and walnut cake to compensate?
Cake? Cake! Of course. Cake is always welcome.
This is the story of my life post-accident, the awareness of life’s insecurity. Sometimes just doing the most banal thing I couldn’t do for a while brings tears to my eyes. I’m grateful that none of that demanded I give up coffee.
I know this might sound silly, but I am so so happy that you can keep that one precious cup! Live on for me, Carver… for the love of everything holy, enjoy those beans for this ole girl… hugs
Thanks so much for the hug, and I’m glad I get that one cup, too.
Oh that banging headache from the caffeine withdrawal. I have had to give up certain foods as I get older, and I mourn their loss, and it makes me blue, but it is what it is, right?
For me, it was like being in the fog. And yeah! There are food groups that are off the diet. Ouch!