What can I write in 10 minutes?

I have 2 minutes to drink my coffee before it is 30 minutes before Mass. Slurrrp.

The last time I stopped in before Mass the guy behind the counter said, "Free refills!"

I said, "No thanks, I barely have time for one."

"Give it to you in a to-go cup," he suggested. I just said no thanks. Probably someone who was a little more awake would have used it as an opportunity to give a reason for her hope, so to speak. I hadn't had the coffee yet. It isn't in my skill set anyway. Settled for a smile.

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I am the only morning person in my family, except maybe for the 11-yo, and one of the sacrifices I make week after week is pretending to go along with the idea that the eleven o'clock Mass is just as good as the nine o'clock Mass, or the eight o'clock or seven o'clock that we could all be going to if we went to different parishes where there are more morning people.

Today I had a bunch of stuff to do in the afternoon, like make 24 portions of chicken salad for the homeschooler's picnic, and we have been spending church apart for the last couple of months anyway, taking turns hiding in the basement with an extremely cheerful but loud toddler. I announced that I was going to an early Mass and my husband was going to take the children (minus the toddler) to the regular one. And what do you know, I was up early enough to grab a coffee first.

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Yesterday I posted a mild comment on FB about not being humble or kind enough to submit to playing nice with baristas at Starbucks who are required to ask me if I want "tall, grande, or venti?" I always say, "Twelve ounces." The result was that I was gently mocked on FB for wanting to go to Starbucks at all, cf. crap coffee and unethical business practices.

I am in my neighborhood local independent coffee shop this morning. The dark roast is, I believe, decent, although it is a bit more high in acidity than I prefer. The environment is nice and there is reliable wifi. You know, I have no idea what the owner's personal ethics or business ethics are like. I suppose I could go up and ask him to fill out a questionnaire before I deign to buy coffee from him. I understand that in some circles it is popular to punish business owners and companies medium to large for their politics, unrelated to the stuff they sell. Suit yourself, but I can't really get behind that attitude.

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17 minutes to go. It is a short drive to the parish I am going to Mass at. Time to get going.

 

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Comments

[GretchenJoanna]

I figure that the people who are employed by whichever company in question are glad to have a job, and I am contributing to their livelihood. A corporation is a real thing, I know, but it's amorphous compared to the people in the stores or factories who need the work. I'm sure someone would find flaws in my reasoning but it works for me.

[Jenny]

I am definitely not a morning person, but we still go to the early Mass. Well, depends on if you consider 830 early. We find the younger ones aren't quite as wiggly and it makes the rest of our day flow better.

I am also a heathen who grocery shops on Sundays while the children are in Sunday school and while I shop, I drink-gasp-Starbucks coffee. So much wrong.