The Bitter Taste of Deep Happiness

It's hard to summarize quickly my love for this bitter drink. Thousands of mornings enjoying it means that it has as many association as the days of my life, but it's bitterness is an inverse symbol of how sweet all those associations are to me.

The work of making it - grinding the beans, brewing the cup, choosing the right mug. I love coffee because I associate it with the hope of morning, the beauty of conversation while sharing a cup, and the often peaceful and intimate spaces where coffee is shared. Sips while inventing a scene in a script, recording a dream from the last night or writing about an incident from the day before to try to understand it better.

This morning I shared coffee with my longtime friend, Nick. We don't see each other often, but his wisdom, erudition, storytelling and generosity can all easily be experienced while sharing a cup of coffee. 

In different seasons I've had regular chats over coffee with so many of the best people in my life that I had no choice but to include it as one of the 50 things I value.