I Love the Coffee

This morning I got to school at 8am after fighting the #viadoom traffic. I got here early for our weekly American Indian Law Journal meeting, which I once skipped and got guilt tripped/yelled at afterward. So, I now reason that I should just suck it up and go. Every Wednesday. At 8am. Awesome. Needless to say, I got to school at 8am, proceeded to engage in a 10 minute meeting, and then I was done. Really? We couldn’t have just e-mailed this meeting? Anyway…

After my meeting I went across the street to Starbucks, because in my early morning frenzy, I didn’t, again, have time/energy/motivation to make coffee. So, across the street I went (it’s so convenient, really), camel hobo bag full of books and lap top and snacks in toe, to get some coffee and do some reading. I sat in a corner near my friend Dave with my Americano, and I was really productive. I got two classes worth of reading and briefing done for Real Estate.

And then, I started to wonder: when did I begin to need coffee to function in the morning? Because really I do. I realized as I sat there. I’m a little ashamed to admit that. But it’s true, friends. It’s so true. I guess it’s not every morning that I need it. I can go all day Saturday without coffee and it’s alright, especially if there is ample time for naps and laziness. But on a school day, when I have to be productive (read: homework, class, motivation) I need coffee.

Maybe it began back in High School when we would skip class to go sit at Holsteins and drink sugary coffee drinks that would get you super excited about life because we didn’t drink alcohol – I was SUCH a good child, but really.

Or maybe it started even before that when my mom, the queen of coffee addiction, would take my brother and I through drive-through-coffee-stands and get us Italian Sodas and hot chocolates and sometimes let us sip on her iced mocha? It was just so good. I couldn’t wait to be a grown-up and be able to drink coffee whenever I wanted. And eat ice cream for dinner (which I rarely do, BTW).

Or maybe it was when Holsteins closed on Christmas Eve 2004 and we went to mourn the loss and exchange gifts, my high school friends and I. And then Ground bought the building. And then I was hired by my beautiful, blue eyed boss. Before the shop even opened. And I got all the free coffee I wanted. And I learned the joy of “happy hour espresso shots” (which are a secrete and are magical and if you ever have one you’ll want another and then you’ll get all super jittery and productive). And maybe the addiction (or was it just the like) continued when I worked there, at Ground in Hood River, on and off for 6 1/2 years because I’m cool and sometimes, as a 3L I still work at the same job I had when I was a Senior in High School.

 

At least I can make pretty latte art, right?

But really, I think the caffeine super addiction started my 1L year. Alone. In my first ever grown up, all mine, downtown/capitol hill Seattle apartment (ohh I loved that apartment). When I learned how to drink and love straight black coffee. And then everything was downhill from there. I also learned how to drink a big glass of red wine, alone, at night, after getting humiliated during cold-calls. So, really, maybe that’s where everything started to go downhill? Who knows?

But friends, I don’t know what to do about it. My coffee need/want. I don’t know if I want to do anything about it? I almost like it. It’s comforting in a way that is familiar and reminds me of home. And I like coffee. It’s delicious (especially when it’s from somewhere other than Starbucks). And I also like the energy it gives me.

So I guess, my question to you is: do you also suffer from the addiction? Are you worried about it? Should I be worried too? Knowing other people are going through the same thing makes me feel better about my choices. Because I’m easily influenced like that. Don’t judge me!