The Pear Tree

Café. I feel it percolate my spirit as I perch in front of my computer screen, red cup firmly in hand. My eyes close as I take a sip, and a smile passes, unexpectedly, across my face.

Mellow, warm, inviting, the aroma of freshly brewed joe is a must on mornings like this, when two small children have had me up several times during the night, needing a bathroom visit, a glass of water, and just a re-tucking with a wayward blanket.

I’ve become even more attached to my coffee since having kids – and not just because of the nighttime disruptions. Through both pregnancies – and a year of nursing for each of them after – I cut the caffeine out completely. I survived, but developed a serious case of attachment disorder.

When I was pregnant with my son, it was easy. I simply had no desire for coffee. Or tea, hot chocolate, chai … but the last time around I wanted it – ooooh I wanted it. I needed it.

I should stress that I’m not actually physically addicted to coffee. I can down several cups at a time with nary a jitter to be found. And I can drink the stuff every day for a year and stop cold turkey without ever experiencing a headache. No, my addiction is mental – or maybe more emotional.

It’s the culture of coffee that hooks me. Good coffee, it goes without saying. Fresh brewed, from the bean, warm, rich, aromatic.

It stimulates good conversations. It pairs with chocolate, vanilla and desserts of all manner and make. It accessorizes rainy days, snow days and sunshine. It gets the creative juices flowing.

So, at a loss for what to write this morning, but wanting to write something, I scooped a heap of decaf Verona into my brushed metal Cuisinart coffee maker and brewed myself a cup of liquid inspiration.

It didn’t take long for the smell to fill the house, giving it a mellow, coffee shop aura. Then, five gladsome beeps later, it was ready.

Just hearing the coffee poured into my cup, gurgling joyfully all the way up, made me want to weep with the pleasure of it.

It appeals to all of my senses – sight (is there a more comforting colour than mocha?), sound, smell and taste (obviously), and even touch as I clutch the warm cup in my hands.

And now I sit and slurp, and words again flow easily out of my fingers and onto the screen. The coffee has worked its magic and I again have something to write about.

- Words and photo by Lori-Anne Poirier

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The Mother Load is a mommy column by Pear Tree editor Lori-Anne Poirier that runs weekly on thecalgarybeacon.com and in The Penticton Herald’s Southern Exposure.

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Giveaway Winner Announced!

The randomly-drawn winner of the French butter dish was Elaine M. Philips! Congratulations! We will be in touch with you shortly to arrange getting your butter dish to you. For everyone else, watch for more fun giveaways down the road.

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