Hello, happy Sunday, and thank you for stopping by for a bit of caffeine and catching up.
I hope you don’t mind another late-night coffee chat. Most Sundays I’m up before first light but a late night last night meant a late start this morning and as a result a late day all around. Not only that, but it’s family day again—at my in-laws this time—and leaves very little time to spend on chores, to-do lists, or slowly sipping coffee all day, but it’s okay.
The weather is gorgeous and to be honest I’d rather get out of the house, see the sun, and spend some time with people I love than worrying about the workweek, or cleaning, or even writing or reading. And anyway this weekend is a long one so there is no need to rush any of it. I may not have been able to give you the day but we have all night and plenty of caffeine.
So, please, pull up a chair and fill up a cup. I’ve got a light blond roast steeping in the French press and a bit of cold frothed sweet vanilla oat milk to pour over top. Let’s talk about last week.
“For more than three decades, coffee has captured my imagination because it is a beverage about individuals as well as community.”
― Howard Schultz, Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that this past week was a hard one to get through but it wasn’t work that made it so hard for a change.
More than a week ago I felt myself coming down with a nasty cold. I had a sore, raw, and dry feeling in my throat and even worse fatigue than usual. I did my best to rest and drink plenty of fluid throughout last Saturday and Sunday but by Monday I could barely get out of bed.
I had an infusion appointment for my new medication Tuesday morning and I worried that if I wasn’t feeling better by then I would have to postpone. There’s a waiting list for this medication so I opted to take Monday off from work and spend the day sleeping on the couch, drinking plenty wof fluids, and taking all my medications and supplements. By the evening I really was feeling better and my appointment the next morning went ahead as scheduled without issues.
But Wednesday morning I woke up feeling like I’d been run over by a truck and I only got worse, and worse, and worse. The sore throat turned into a cough and the worse sinus pain I have ever had in my life. I ended up with headaches, congestion, swelling around the eyes, jaw pain, and muscle soreness. My whole body hurt!
I’m not sure if it was the cold getting worse or side effects from the infusion or, more likely, some combination of the two but I’m really hoping it won’t be like this every time. My next appointment is less than a week away so we’ll find out then.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that though I was still miserable by Friday, I did my best to keep my spirits high to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my wife.
We’ve been together for too long now to make a very big deal out of the day. There are no flowers or chocolates, teddy bears or little boxes of jewelry. No, not since our early years have we felt the need to make material gestures out of our love. Nowadays we make reservations some place nice and enjoy a few drinks and a nice meal together.
This year my wife broke the rules a little and ordered a nice lunch to be delivered to my workplace but she swears it was because I was sick not because it was Valentine’s Day and therefore not a violation of our tradition or agreement. I’m skeptical but because it was so sweet I’ll allow it this year.
For dinner, we tried a new Peruvian place that opened up around the corner. My wife has been wanted to go there, but the menu intimidated me and I’ve been stalling for a while but Valentine’s Day felt like a good time to put on my big girl pants and try something new. I’m glad we did too because the place was amazing. The food and drinks were delicious. The atmosphere was intimate and cozy. The service was superb, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
I know most long-term couples don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. I know most people consider it a commercial holiday meant for young or new love but I see it as something bigger than that. It’s a day to celebrate love—all kinds of love!—and though we do (or should) celebrate our partners and our relationships every day it still feels good to spend one day a year celebrating it all together.
I love the cheap gifts and the grand gestures. I love the corny cards, the packed restaurants, and the sappy way we all look and talk about each other. I being in love and being around love, but that’s just me, an admitted, unashamed, hopeless and enduring romantic.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that taking two days off of work didn’t make the week feel any shorter. With the snow day last Friday that made five days away from work and meant there was a lot to catch up on.
The new class of employees is just about through my portion of the training and I’m already looking ahead to the next one. I had been told they would start this coming week, but it looks like I’ll get a chance to catch up on other duties I’ve had to put to the side these last few months. Maybe I’ll get back to riding routes for a while too. I have been missing the kids. And maybe I’ll remember to make some time for myself and get back to long lunch breaks to read, write, and take walks in.
Oh, speaking of reading, I have made significant and surprising progress through my current read, It by Stephen King. The book is over 1,100 pages long and I do not want it to cause me to fall behind in my reading goals so I’m devoting an hour at least every night to the tome. I’ve just about made it to page 300 and so far I like it but damn is it bloated. Luckily King’s prose swings between delightful and suspenseful so though I think this story could have probably been told in half the time he holds my interest nonetheless.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that it’s very late now and if I have any more coffee, I won’t sleep at all tonight. Staying up sounded nice at the start but this cold is still hanging on and I need all the rest I can get if I hope to return to the world by Tuesday.
I hope you had a good week. I hope wherever you are the sun has been out, and the snow has melted. I hope you are feeling well and if you aren’t I hope you get well soon. I hope that you had someone to love and be loved by on Valentine’s Day and if you felt alone, I would remind you that there are so many kinds of love in the world, love between friends, love between siblings, parent’s and children, and love of the self, and all deserve to be celebrated too.
Until next time.
Written for the #WeekendCoffeeShare link-up hosted by Eclectic Alli.
Lisa Marie Blair 
So well said Lisa Marie. This was a great read and I’m glad to have enjoyed it. On the other hand, I am very sorry to hear that you’ve been ill. I know you really did not need this on top of everything else you’re trying to do. I hope this finds you fully recovered.
Warmest regards,
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