Gunjan Karun

I’m almost there.  I’m down to one cup of coffee per day.  What a long day it is!  I’m almost ready to break the caffeine addiction that started in high school.  But I have a feeling that I’ll stick to the one cup for a little while, because old habits die hard: I’d been stuck on two cups a day since the end of March.

Don’t talk to me before my morning coffee…

If you’ve followed my progress here and here, you know my backstory.  Giving up this habit is no small sacrifice.  I have my one cup, really a mug, in the morning before I go to work.  I fill that sucker up almost to the rim, because I know that it’s the last coffee that I’ll taste until the next morning.  I also drink it black, so it’s 100% caffeinated goodness.

It makes sense cents

I can’t ignore the financial benefits.  Where we used to go through two cans of java each week, now we buy one can every two to three weeks.  Given the price of the stuff, I can estimate a $300 - $400 savings over the course of a year.  Not too shabby!  Now, if I could give up cigars, we’d be talking some serious money.  But one bad habit at a time.  So much for the economics.  Has it improved my demeanor?

I’ll be seeing less of you, old friend

Giving up the cup after dinner was torture!  I’m glad I didn’t put a time limit on this goal, because each step has been a struggle.  Sure, it’s made me less jittery, helped me sleep better, and saved me some money.  I find that I don’t sweat as much.  Even my teeth are whiter.  But this is COFFEE!  It was a dear, old friend.  It’s been with me through all-night cramming in high school, and term papers in college.  It’s resuscitated me in the morning after a late night of bar-hopping.  It’s been an afternoon pick-me-up at work.  It kept me alert during my baby son’s nighttime feedings, lest I stick the bottle in his ear.

A grouch with a capital “G”

But all relationships lose their spark over time.  You start to notice flaws in the other party.  Coffee was no exception.  Java also brought out some of my less-than-charming qualities.  I won’t miss those.  Neither will the people that have to put up with me on a daily basis.  Hopefully, in two months or so, I can report that I’ve finally gotten the monkey off my back.  It’ll be tough, with all of the iced coffee commercials that arrive just in time for Summer.  I’ll just have to suck it up and ignore them.

Besides, it’s barbecue season.  Hello, Sam Adams Lager…

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