on a recent visit to see my family in northern Michigan
i was excited to wake up early
enjoy my usual vacation routine
have some quiet morning time
easing into the day
reading, writing
looking out over the beautiful lake
while enjoying a delicious cup of fresh morning coffee
I was staying upstairs
with its own tiny kitchen
had everything set up to brew the coffee
ready to go
the only thing missing
was the actual coffee
but could not find it anywhere
even after checking every cupboard, drawer, and shelf
I quietly ventured downstairs
searched the big kitchen
in the heart of the house
no luck
just decaf, not real coffee at all
now that I couldn’t find the coffee
I so wanted it even more
I opened every drawer and every cupboard
checked high shelves
checked low shelves
looked where the teas were
looked on the countertops
checked the refrigerator and freezer
nothing
tried to figure out
their organizational/logical system for where they kept things
went in the laundry room checked all of the cupboards high and low
now I was even more determined to find it
went into the garage in my pajamas with bare feet
opened the extra refrigerator
the extra freezer
nothing resembling coffee in either of them
finally decided to brew myself a cup of decaf
to at least have a morning coffee-ish experience
when my family woke up
the secret location I hadn’t considered was quickly revealed
it was on a shelf at the bottom of the basement stairs
aha!
the basement
who knew?
I forget they had a basement
even if I had thought of it
it wasn’t a place I expected to find the coffee
but no worries
I was now fully awake
even without the caffeine
powered by adrenaline
and almost sweating
after my whirlwind of a treasure hunt
now if anyone needs to find anything in their house
I can help
having learned what’s in every cupboard, drawer, or on a shelf.
—
‘searching is half the fun:
life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party.’
-jimmy buffett
—
photo image: zoe coffee company
I didn't have my glasses on.... 