Coffee: My Constant Companion

**Coffee: A Constant Companion**

Some of the best things in life are free. A loving partner, good friends, the warmth of a pet curled up at your feet, and the soft embrace of a cozy bed. These are the simple things we cherish, the things that often slip into the background of our everyday life because they're always there. 

For me, there’s something else I'd like to add to that list of comforts: coffee. It’s not free, I know, and depending on where you get it, it can be downright expensive. But for me, coffee is synonymous with a good life, even if I sometimes take it for granted.

My relationship with coffee didn’t start early like some people’s. In fact, back in college, I couldn’t stand the stuff. It wasn’t the life-saving elixir for me that it was for many of my classmates pulling all-nighters. When I crammed for exams, I reached for Mountain Dew, not coffee. Coffee made me jittery, not energized, and I avoided it for years.

But coffee snuck into my life later, as my pace began to slow. Teaching had a rhythm, a long day of managing kids, and I found myself needing a mid-day boost. I started with mochas—sweet, creamy, hiding the coffee taste behind layers of sugar and milk. But soon enough, the sweetness was too much. I was gaining weight, and I knew I had to make a change. That’s when I found Americanos. They became my go-to drink, three shots of expresso that sustained me through long afternoons of teaching. It was a simple ritual that brought focus and energy when I needed it most, and for that, I’m grateful.

Now, retired, I no longer need to be on high alert as I did when I was surrounded by ten-year-olds all day. Instead, I savor my coffee. I brew it at my own pace, on my own schedule. I’m a loyal fan of a particular espresso brand, and I don’t just drink it—I depend on it. Two cups in the morning to wake up, a couple more throughout the day, and a "wind-down" cup in the evening. Yes, coffee to wind down. It sounds contradictory, but it’s part of the rhythm I’ve come to love.

So loyal am I that I bring my own coffee and even a Keurig machine when I travel. It's not an addiction—more like a faithful companion.

Of course, like any long-term relationship, my love affair with coffee has had its bumps. There was that time, back when I was teaching seventh grade, that I brewed a pot of coffee in my classroom. I had one of those little one cup brewers right on my desk. I got distracted by a new group of students coming in and started teaching without realizing I’d forgotten to put my cup under the spout. Coffee streamed onto the desk, soaking papers and pooling across the surface. I only noticed when one of the kids mentioned smelling something funny. Looking up, I saw the flood of coffee spreading like a brown tide, and I had to act like it was no big deal. I assigned some independent work, all the while frantically cleaning my desk. Not my finest teaching moment, but a memorable one.

There were smaller mishaps too. Coffee dribbled down my chin during meetings, always when I happened to be wearing a white shirt, of course. I would take a thoughtless sip and only realize too late that a small stream had made its way down to my collar. These clumsy spills became part of the ritual too.

But coffee is more than just a beverage for me. It’s there in the quiet early mornings when I can’t sleep, like tonight, at 3 a.m., keeping me company as I sit here writing. It calms me down when my thoughts won’t quiet, offering comfort in a cup. Some might say I rely on it too much, but I think of it like a kiss to my wife or a pet to my dog—a familiar and welcome part of my day. 

I suppose it’s time to give credit where it’s due. So here’s to you, coffee—my constant, my comfort, my sometimes chaotic, but always appreciated, companion.