So I was struck with the memory that I had yet to write a blog post this week, just as I was taking a piping hot cup of water out of my microwave in preparation for a soothing cup of tea. So, what better to write about than the drink that fuel's a writer's soul? But then I though, Coffee is really swell too, and as both drinks are everyday staples in my life, I thought I'd include them both.
Now, I know that there is a debate on the topic, so I won't tiptoe around the question: Which is better? Coffee, or tea? There are even Facebook groups for coffee lovers vs. tea lovers. Presently I sit here writing, listening to chill music and sipping green tea with peach, but earlier I was enjoying a large caramel iced coffee. Am I a traitor to one side or the other, and to be forever rejected by both? I don't know, so I thought perhaps I'd just considered the aspects of each for your considerations.
Now, Coffee first.
Now, I know that there is a debate on the topic, so I won't tiptoe around the question: Which is better? Coffee, or tea? There are even Facebook groups for coffee lovers vs. tea lovers. Presently I sit here writing, listening to chill music and sipping green tea with peach, but earlier I was enjoying a large caramel iced coffee. Am I a traitor to one side or the other, and to be forever rejected by both? I don't know, so I thought perhaps I'd just considered the aspects of each for your considerations.
Now, Coffee first.
Now, please forgive the cringe-worthy "ur" substitute for "your" but I thought the sentiment was nice. :)
Anyway, so, the beauty of coffee. I wasn't actually allowed to drink coffee for the first fifteen years of my life- my mom was convinced it was going to stunt my growth, though anyone whose ever seen me knows that preventing my drinking coffee did absolutely nothing to prevent me from being short. Anyway, so when I finally could drink coffee, it was the most exciting thing! And trying out all sorts of flavors and things was just one adventure for my taste buds after another. As a result, I was conditioned to think of coffee as an exciting thing.
As for it's benefits to my everyday life, first and foremost, coffee has saved me by helping me not collapse with exhaustion when working on projects and studying for tests, or just for making it through the day. It also, in my opinion, tastes fantastic, and has many facets to the fantastic-ness of its flavor. I love my coffee with french vanilla coffee creamer, a squirt of Hershey's syrup, and topped with whipped cream ideally, though white chocolate lattes with an occasional addition of raspberry, or a caramel iced or frozen coffee are also excellent.
In addition to just general enjoyment of coffee, it has also provided me with some incredibly hilarious stories based on my abnormal behavior that it occasionally encourages me to exhibit. For some reason, sometimes- mostly when I'm already dead on my feet and drink flavored coffee- it's caffeine sends my senses into overdrive and I get a teensy bit hyper and do things that normal and, for lack of a better word, sober, Amber would probably not do. For instance, one day I was tired and my roommate and I made iced coffee, and I drank it right before heading to choir. At the time, it was a friend's birthday, and so on the way I plucked a sweet little yellow flower to give to her. About ten minutes after I arrived, she hadn't, and so the poor flower was starting to droop.
"Well," my addled mind thought, "I don't want this dear thing to just go to waste!" So I turned and found a guy friend standing there. "Anthony! Would you like a buttercup? I got it for Laura but she's late and it's starting to wilt and it would be so sad if it died without somebody getting it," I said in one breath.
He considered my excited state and the tiny yellow flower being offered for a moment, then answered slowly, as if trying not to compromise my delicate state of mind, "Thank you, but no thank you. Honestly, I hate to say it but it would probably just end up in the trash."
I sighed dramatically, "I suppose that makes sense. Well" I perked back up, "talk to you later!"
Then I turned, and directly behind me was a nice guy that I had seen but never talked to before in choir. He looked startled at my abrupt turn, but didn't have the chance to say anything or move to either go past me or move out of my way before I speedily recited the same sentiment I had to Anthony. Poor guy. He chuckled, though, not sure what my deal was and why I, someone who he probably didn't know the name of or realize knew his name, was offering him a buttercup.
"No, thank you, though," he answered.
"Okay!" I said, then bounced off to my seat, a bit dejected that none of the boys wanted to give my pitiful wilting flower a home. Then Laura came in a minute later and that problem was solved, though she couldn't stop laughing when I told her the story, probably in about twenty seconds.
That was just one instance. Later I thought back and just that made my face blaze red, not to mention my uncontrollably loud and fast speaking when on caffeine. It's incredibly embarrassing in hindsight, but it makes for an excellent story.
Okay, so that's a little bit about my relationship with coffee. Now for tea . . .
Mmmmm. Tea. : ) I love all sorts of tea- fruity, green, herbal, English, black, white, chai, whatever I can get my hands on. Just the thought of tea soothes my soul and opens my mind. It brings to mind cozy evenings curled up with a book or typing vigorously at my computer to create something lovely. It just makes me happy. When I'm having a bad day, tea can make everything better. Honestly, my stories that go with tea are much less entertaining, but I swear, tea has magical powers.
I have had days when I was either wanting to write and was blocked, or I had a written piece due soon that I was just not feeling the vibe for- be it a story or poem or an academic paper- but after a few sips of tea, I was ready to go. There have been days that a cup or two of tea has gotten me through writing a six to ten page single spaced paper. Then there's this blog post for instance. I sat down, not entirely sure what was going to happen, but about three sips into my lovely beverage, and now here we are, a dozen or so paragraphs and two illustrative photos later.
Plus, it makes me feel all cool and writer-ish. That's always what I think of when I envision the stereotypical author- someone in a comfy, baggy sweater and either jeans or corduroy pants, glasses and possibly a beret sitting at a little table typing or writing in a journal, with a piping mug of tea at hand. Tea is just a very poetic thing to drink.
So?
Given what I've just told you, it should come as no surprise that I am deeply indebted and quite fond of both drinks. One helps my writing flow and the other gives me stories to tell. One excites and the other soothes. Both have endless varieties of flavors and types, and trying new ones is always interesting. Both are good hot, or cold in the right circumstances. Either will make me a very happy person.
For me, and for others as long as their dislike for one or the other isn't based on distaste, I think coffee and tea are wonderful, but perhaps for different situations. So, not "coffee vs. tea," but coffee in harmony with tea.
*insert angelic sound affect here*
Okay, well I've said my piece on the subject. I'd be interested to hear others' opinions, if you care to share them. This is a safe space; I will not censure you for your love of one, the other, both, or neither. Well, good day to you, and I hope you enjoy a nice cup of one or the other if you get the chance. : )
I drink my coffee black, and I like to think the smell of it, the warmth of it as I hold my cup, inspires me. I drink more than I should, and I know I probably have had some "buttercup" moments as a result. But there's something about the idea of tea, the making of tea, that is very writerly and soul-healing.
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