Can't Be Too Sure

I was in my local Starbucks yesterday morning to pick up my vente bold cup of caffeine, and there were two guys in front of me waiting for their order. The guy behind the counter looks like he is new to the job, seems like a nice enough guy but he has not developed his Starbucks speed yet. These guys were waiting a baristal (that is, pertaining to baristas) eternity for their stuff. The guy finally brings over two identical vente coffees. Here is how the conversation went:

"Which one is the decaffeinated?"

"I think this one is."

"You think?"

"I'm pretty sure, I'm almost certain."

"Well, caffeine gives me chest pains. I will take your word for it, but if I get chest pains today, you and I are going to have a talk on Monday."

Silence, no response. So he takes the coffee and walks away. (Chest pains, caffeine, not sure, what?)

The other server hands me my coffee, but the guy's friend comes back and says, I want to new coffees, clearly marked which one is the decaffeinated. And he is none too happy in his ask. But she takes the cups and tosses them, going to get another order, trying to explain to the new guy that he probably should have done this in the first place. (She had heard the conversation that went on before. She probably should have done it in the first place too)

I go to put my half and half (just a splash, thank you) standing next to the guy prone to chest pains. He is laughing about the whole thing (laughing, really) saying his friend really does not want to start off his day with decaf. (Oh, your buddy clutching his chest in agony is not your major concern)

I said yeah, that's no good. You go into cardiac shock and he is too sleepy to drive you to the hospital. (He liked that one. he had a great sense of humor)

And out the door and on my way I go. For me, when it comes to chest pains,, you cannot be too sure about your coffee. But at least it is about caffeine and not about Equal.

Just another start to another morning.

What I Found Important

Just got back from a quick road trip with my wife. The place was not important, the purpose was not important. At least not for the purposes of this post. What was important was breakfast. 3 days on the road, 9 meals, and 6 of them were breakfast. Yesterday was an all breakfast day, the beauty of the American road trip is the inalienable right to eat breakfast all day long, with nobody giving you grief for doing it (my wife is great!). I had 4 meals on the road, all of them breakfast (my wife eats a more normal diet, trust me), all of them courtesy of the fine folks at Cracker Barrel, which has become our road meal of choice. They all look the same (very pleasant), the menu is the same (very consistent) and has lots of options, the best of which is all day breakfast availability. They always seem to be open when we are traveling and hungry, which is most of the time (hungry, not traveling). And the wait staff wear aprons with 1 to 4 stars on them, giving the meal a military feel (always good to feel safe on the road), you feel quite special when a 4 star comes up to you.

However, one sweet and sour note. We stopped for a drink and a rest break at a Burger King (drinks only, no meal) and I got served and paid for a senior coffee (that's what they call it, and I didn't realize it until I had paid and left and puzzled at the low cost of two drinks. The slowness of uptake might have been part of the reason for the sale at senior prices. Who knows?). Ah, to be humbled with a simple cup of coffee. But I am going to get old anyway, might as well start scoring one of the senior perks (no pun intended) on the road, reduced price coffee to keep us old folks awake and between the white lines. I guess I had it their way this time.

But lots of breakfast on a 3 day traveling holiday weekend. I tip my hat to the American breakfast on the road, a truly great meal.

I Love The Mornings

The calm of a waking world, watching a sunrise.

Facing the day with all your energy still bubbling away inside you.

Spending some quiet time in His Word, reflecting on my walk with Christ, getting a little closer to Him while the world is held at bay.

A cup of coffee, a bite to eat, fresh air to breathe, scratching my dog's ears. (Oh, to be able to sniff the air the way a dog does!)

Smiling and saying good morning to my wife.

I love the mornings.

It is just a darn shame you have to get up so early to enjoy them.