The Ordinary Details of Life: Musings for a Thursday Morning over Coffee

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I have a confession to make. I only know how to make coffee one way—in a French press. I haven’t used an automatic drip machine in so many years that I would have to read directions—water to coffee
proportion, anyway—to get it going. And percolators? I’ve never figured them out. I have to ask my SE (spousal equivalent) every time, running the risk of getting that raised-brow, you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me look. So, French press it is
                I am perfectly content with this morning ritual. Heat the water, two heaping scoops of coarsely ground coffee beans (yes, I do prefer to grind my own), fill the pot and give it a quick stir with my favorite wooden spoon and place the press part on the tempered glass pot. Four minutes later, I push the plunger and voila! Perfect coffee.

Funny that I should find the preparation of a known stimulant so relaxing. I think it’s the comfort of knowing that if you do the same thing in the same way time after time you will get the same result. And there it is, the fine line between taking shelter and stunting one’s growth—old wives’ tales governing the dangers of giving coffee to children notwithstanding.

My mind wanders to a quote erroneously attributed to Albert Einstein about the definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
              In my own words, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” I don’t know how much this has to do with being crazy. I do, after all, make a fine pot of coffee based on this principle. But there are times—many times—when altering your approach paves the way to personal growth. I’ve learned, for example, that if I leave my car windows down every time it rains, my seats will get wet. And so, I’ve altered my approach. Mostly. Sometimes I forget and that’s OK. I practice the Art of Self-Forgiveness. And anyway, that’s why God created the towel. Not during those first essential six days of creation, of course. Things like light, fish of the sea and fowls of the air would have taken precedence, but probably in the following week or so. Or maybe not until after a heart-to-heart with Noah after the flood.

“No disrespect, Sir,” said Noah, “The dove and the rainbow were cool and all, but we could really use something to sop up this mess.”

And the Lord said, “Let there be Towels.” And He saw the absorbency and saw that it was Good.

Something like that.

Coffee beans and French presses came much later—for girls like me who are grateful for life’s simple pleasures.


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