#SATurday: How I Fell in Love with Coffee
Coffee. Yes, coffee. I’ve talked about how I fell in love with cats and writing and traveling, but I have yet to talk about how I fell in love with coffee. It’s a funny story really, something that has caused a few giggles here and there, but I always hate to label my own stories – especially if they are based off my real life. And this is a direct episode of that. (I like to title this episode of life Hot Chocolate, season 12, episode 12).
This episode would have to take place during season 12, because I was 12 years old, and it would be episode 12 because it was December. It had to be. I still remember the Christmas decoration around the school. But – yes – I was 12, and it was cold outside, and my dad made hot chocolate for my brother and I as something that would keep us warm. Insert plot twist: I’m not a big fan of chocolate. Most of the time, I avoid it. But this was the first winter my mom wasn’t around. She had died just that March, and my father was doing his best at figuring out everything she did on top of everything he already did on his own. (Let’s take a moment to send my pops some love).
Now, after all is said and done, my father gave my brother and I hot chocolate. Greg drank his. I didn’t. I wasn’t a fan, but I was still freezing, and my dad somehow realized this in the middle of all the morning chaos. Since we didn’t have much time to make apple cider, which is what I normally drank, my dad grabbed my mug, emptied it out, and poured the remaining coffee left in his coffee pot into my cup. Of course he asked me to try it, and when I did, I fell in love. From that moment on, I drank a cup of coffee every day.
Granted, yes, I know, I know. I was 12. What 12-year-old drinks coffee on a regular basis? ::pointsatmypastself:: This one. And it helped fueled the energy for my first book. (Just kidding…I think.)
But there was slack. Within a year or so – during season 13, episode 10 – I took my travel mug to middle school with me. It was undoubtedly filled with coffee, and my teacher, who happened to be passing by, asked me how my hot chocolate was. I told her it wasn’t hot chocolate, and of course, the woman stopped, perplexed. I explained that it was coffee. I like coffee. And I drink coffee every morning.
I seem to recall her lecturing me about stunted growth, how I should try to be healthier, and I remember thinking, Stunted growth? What’s wrong with being short?
In fact, I was “supposedly” supposed to be 5’7”. If you’ve seen pictures and you’re a master at guessing heights based off of them, then you already know that I am currently 5’4”. On top of that, ironically enough, I stopped growing around age 13 – probably near the anniversary of the day I fell for coffee. I think it was a great way to celebrate. And if I do say so myself:
Those three inches were worth it.
~SAT
Also, I answered your questions on my latest episode on my YouTube channel: Coffee & Cats! What do I think of the fainting trope? Have I ever fainted? Would I be on a reality TV show about writers? Find out!
Shannon A. Thompson 
Shocking. I took you for 5’6 or maybe 5’11. Coffee is gross to me
Nope! Only 5’4″! I love coffee, but I have lots of friends who don’t like it. I also love tea though.
~SAT
I was always told coffee would stunt my growth; I started drinking it when I was about 5 – mainly due to lack of other substances. I have always despised water, and juice and soda were not allowed in my house as a child.
Since I hit 6’4 by the time I was 11 or 12, I really enjoy standing in cramped doorways or planting my palm on ceilings and just staring at people who told me it’d stunt my growth. Or inquiring if they really think I would be better off at the (assumed) 6’8 or more I “should” have been.
I also was not allowed to drink much soda or juice. Now, I love juice, but I’ve never liked soda too much. I like being 5’4″ myself. Doesn’t bother me at all. I find height to be an inquisitive subject – often discussed but never seemingly impactive outside of politics and bragging rights, even though it’s interesting nevertheless. 😀 I don’t find one to be better than the other, but I do – personally – find a form of fascination with much taller people.
~SAT
I personally think I could stand to be shorter. Fitting into cars, through some doorways, on beds, things like that, is sometimes annoying and requires contortions that this particular cripple prefers not to contemplate. Plus, people stare. Pallid giants with Fabio-hair attract attention, and I’d prefer to be anonymous. XD
I thought you were taller too, though there is nothing wrong with being short! I’m just a little below 5’3 (I managed to be shorter than most people in my family!) Many don’t understand how I can be French and dislike coffee. I’m a tea girl and have always been. I can’t live without (many cups of) Lady Grey! 🙂
That’s funny! I’m starting to get curious as to why I’ve received so many messages – both on here and in my email – about how many people thought I was much taller than I actually am. It’s definitely curious. My family is arguably short – my mother being 5’2″ and my father being 5’10”, with my brother and I falling in between. My mother was French, so I’m also French in biological background, but my father was Anglo-Canadian, so I’m not sure where the love of coffee came from, but I love it very much. I also love tea though. I like Earl Grey myself. 😀 I’ll have tea today and think of this conversation! Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re very much appreciated.
~SAT
I was also 12 when I fell into the dark depths of the mysterious nectar I had long since been preparing and serving to my mother. It was her friend, in fact, that persuaded me to have some. I remember that it was the summer before I began high school. We were vacationing in Wildwood, NJ. She had challenged me to do so, stating that it was birthright and positioned me against my heritage. Defiantly, there I stood, in the shadow of giants (everyone seemed much larger to me back then) and without hesitation brought the warm mug to my lips and sipped. I will forever be grateful to that woman.
What a beautiful story. A tale I feel goes on forever, if need be. I love your poems. Always keep writing. You are a poet at heart and an inspiration to all logophiles.
~SAT
I fell in love with coffee when I was – if I’m not wrong – 8, when my late grandma, took me after school to one of her friend’s and she made coffee. Since then,I drink 1 or 2 cups of coffee a day but I have to admit that I have times when I don’t drink coffee at all. But I love it,it tastes like Heaven. Sometimes I even turn myself on black tea,instead of coffee – happy to say that it has about the same effect on me as coffee does. About the inches, well, you took me by only one 1inch, as I am 5’3″ – yup,shorter than anyone else in my family,but why do I care. As they say “Great essences,come in small packages”.
It’s funny you say that! Black tea is my second favorite to coffee, and I loved reading your story. Thank you for reading and sharing it with us all. Funny how families and stories and drinks shape us.
~SAT
It’s a small world, I guess ! Exactly and I think that no matter where in the world we are, we’re still a lot alike. Here’s to coffee and black tea, that unites us all ! 🙂
Cheers!
~SAT
Reblogged this on Crazy Beautiful.
Thank you for sharing!
~SAT
I taken to coffee when I was about 16, but only for a cup in the morning. However a few month ago I watched Gilmore Girls for the first time and realized I wasn’t drinking enough.
Recently someone made the mistake of getting me a Thermos and I’ve been lugging this 2 liter caffeine distribution system around like a boss
A very jittery boss
A very jittery boss and a great writer – I think you missed a part ;]
~SAT
Oh pshhhh. . . . That goes without saying.
Oh look my modesty is flying by.
I was waiting for the ‘stunted growth’ part of the story. Me being short makes people believe I drink a lot of coffee. I don’t though. Stuff puts me to sleep for some reason.
That is interesting! I can sleep despite drinking coffee, but it doesn’t put me asleep. I secretly think it doesn’t stunt growth at all. ;]
~SAT
I agree. I know a lot of 6’+ people who drink coffee. Curious to uncover the ‘source’ of that urban legend.
So you should definitely read this (it’s awesome): http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/coffee-stunt-growth.htm
~SAT
Interesting. Thanks.
I need bubbles in my java – come into money? Why can’t we have legends like that one? Just stunted growth nowadays.
~SAT
Bad teeth and hyper-activity too. Also, depending on the report, it dulls and hones the mind. Not sure how that works.
I think that’s from lack of sleep? Not sure. I’m still drinking it. 😀 Just thought it was funny considering how many theories they have, including contradicting ones – like causing and preventing osteoporosis.
~SAT
I think most foods and drinks have stuff like that. Never sure which reports to trust.
I couldn’t have been more than 9 or 10 when I started drinking coffee regularly. There was always a fresh pot in our house from dusk to dawn. Now I drink it on my commute, but drink tea at work. Weekends are still mostly coffee. Black, with nothing in it for both beverages.
I’m so excited to see numerous stories of people drinking coffee at a young age. I love tea too. It’s wonderful how these beverages can bring people together too. You never hear “Hey, let’s go get an orange juice sometime.” It’s coffee and tea. It’s the friendship of beverages.
~SAT
So true, although beer has to be on the list somewhere.
Aah, coffee. My mom actually started giving me coffee in the mornings before school when I was seven because she was convinced it calmed my hyper little self down. Not sure if it worked, but I’ve been hooked ever since. 🙂
My dad once regaled me with the origin story of his passion for coffee. He told me that there was an occasion when he was an infant that he would not stop crying and he refused the formula in the bottle. Well, according to my dad, my grandfather took the bottle from my grandmother, dumped out the formula and refilled it with lukewarm coffee from his thermos. He then gave the bottle to my father, who settled down as soon as he tasted it…and history was made. My dad has been a loyal coffee-enthusiast ever since 🙂
Oh, and on the stunting-your-growth thing…my dad is 6’1″ sooo, Im sure how accurate that urban legend is 🙂 But who knows, maybe he was supposed to be 6’6″ ;p
I’m also a lifelong coffee junkie. I once had a co-worker who surmised that I drank a lot of coffee because I was subconsciously self-medicating for undiagnosed ADD. Because stimulants are used to treat ADD, there could actually be some merit to her idea. But I don’t think I have attention issues. Wait a minute, what was I just saying?