National Coffee Day!

You knew that I was going to write about this one, didn’t you? You knew that this one is right up my particular alley…

I heard that Friday, September 29, 2023, was going to be the official National Coffee Day in North America (there is also the International Coffee Day on October 1st, and I will write a little more about the java joy to come). And I was ready for it.

It was a week where I got a lot of work done, including teaching the same grammar material to students who did not notice my error, and then finally put enough money aside to cover bills that are still going to hit me pretty hard. I needed to have at least one day to myself that had no notes for me to mark, no exams to prepare and edit – lovely to have that midterm week soon; so easy to prepare for it – and no talk about money or debts to repay.

Coffee… Oh, how you have ruined me. This is probably the moment when I should discuss how I got onboard that particular caffeinated trail. As a child, my family drank tea. Lots of tea. Lots of different types of tea (orange pekoe be damned). I grew up with relatives who would make you peppermint tea right from the plant. I was given my mother’s special bush tea that would knock the cold or flu out of you after what was really an unfair fight. Coffee was something that really did not cross the threshold.

And then I made friends with S.

His family came straight from Scotland, had the dirtiest home I had ever seen (I was told to keep my shoes on indoors; no need to tell me that), and they loved me. One day, his mother asked if I would like some coffee.

Now, I was about eight or nine. I still listened to my elders and I thought that they knew best. I thought that a family from Scotland would be devoted to tea. I thought that I would say no and move on with my day.

“Yes, please.”

“And how do you like it?”

I am so thankful that S. had already placed his order and I simply asked for what he had: coffee with cream.

And I took my first shot of that heavenly elixir in a yellow plastic mug – yes, I remember the colour; how could I forget? – in a dirty family room basement watching part of the Star Wars trilogy on the only VCR I had ever seen in my neighbourhood outside of our school.

So, I was ready for the big day…or was I?

Perhaps… I avoided my usual coffee hit in the morning, but I had a very good breakfast. No exercise, though (very rare for me), and I wondered if I should have at least limbered up a bit before hitting the pavement and hitting my stomach with the usual hot bean brew.

No worries… Even without a quick glance at the schedule, my walk proved to be perfect for the arrival of the one bus near my home that would take me to the special café that I decided to visit. Not Starbucks; not Second Cup (look that one up, you silly Americans); not Tim Hortons (know that one, folks?). They would be quite predictable. I saw a line up at one franchise of the latter and knew that I did not want to face that today.

I went to Krispy Kreme.

Ah, K.K… I love you so much. And I say this as someone who can count the number of times I have passed within those antique colours and signage. It was sparsely attended and all those nice paper hats were just waiting for us to pick them up. The staff was also ready for their patrons.

“A free medium for you, sir.”

Okay, you called me “sir”. And you gave me free coffee.

How could I leave just then?

How could I not have a perfect doughnut to go with the elixir of life (Birthday Batter, as it is called)?

I looked over that yellow-frosted treat with its rainbow sprinkles and knew that this was going to be a good day. I judge any restaurant I attend by how they handle my food, and I noted that they wrapped the doughnut in paper before they put it in a paper bag (Green Spots on a White Field…the official name for the design around the logo. Beautiful and something that I can get behind).

I also decided that I would write to the company to thank them and make a very important suggestion: start selling sandwiches (Tim Hortons won’t have a chance if this happens).

I may not survive the International Day to come, but I am so grateful that my fellow Canuckistanians love this drink and that we can all appreciate our special day…

*

Thank you for reading!

If you liked this, you can add your Insights, Comment, leave a Heart, Tip, Pledge, or Subscribe. I will appreciate any support you have shown for my work.

You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

Give it a look...