Emergen-C & Faux Cappuccino

I wake up in the morning feeling groggy from the lethal combination of a creeping cold & Nyquil I took the night before. Throat is on fire, head is doing cartwheels & body is covered in cold sweat as all I can think of is sleep....and more sleep.

My hair is disheveled, flat and sticking to my head like post-its. I'm wearing a fuzzy light green bathrobe that I got as a Christmas gift last year and thought I'd never wear. I've been living in this for the past few days and it's the most comfortable thing next to wrapping myself with a n.a.p. blanket.

I could've slept at least 24 more hours but choosing to become a mom inevitably meant giving up the luxury of undisturbed sleep even during moments of illness so off I go--- straight to the coffee maker.

I remember I just ran out of my favorite medium roast coffee blend and all I have left is cappuccino flavored coffee. What the fuck was I thinking when I bought this? Ugh.

Sure enough, it tastes just as artificial and nasty as it reads.

After few sips of this faux cappuccino with dry toast I walk over to the medicine cabinet to see what my remaining options are. I can take Dayquil to induce present grogginess and perhaps take a nap. But that means I have to somehow put my 5-year old down for a nap just two hours after she awoke. She too has a cold but is full of energy and insists on watching Yo Gabba Gabba on repeat.

Maybe I should just down this bottle of Nyquil and go back to sleep. Maybe I should share some with my daughter and take a nap together. Ahh that sounds lovely.

Before I can feel the familiar pangs of maternal guilt for my impure thoughts, my eyes spot out the box of Emergen-C hiding out in the back.

I grab a cup, pour the packet of Lemon Honey Emergen-C and down this pink drink in one big desperate gulp. It tastes even worse than the cappuccino flavored coffee. What the hell is Ruby Lemon anyway? These advertising execs need to make better choices in their names. Whatever. Stop wasting energy on useless thoughts, I tell myself  As of now, I just need sleep......and more sleep.

This is the story of one uneventful morning of a 30-year old who chose early marriage & motherhood in place of solitude, personal gratification & material success. And even though I'm only left with this foul tasting pseudo coffee & a latent immune system, I'll count my blessings and be grateful.

Now bring me some real coffee and a nice, long vacation.