Daily writing prompt

What do you love now, that you hated when you were younger?

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I hated coffee when I was a kid. Seriously, who thought that bitter brew was a good idea? It was like drinking liquid regret! The kitchen would smell like an overenthusiastic barbecue gone wrong, and I’d scrunch up my nose like I just stepped in something suspicious. My parents would sip their steaming cups with expressions that resembled winning the lottery, as if they’d discovered some magical potion that I definitely wasn’t invited to! I’d much rather dive into a mug of hot chocolate, where the sweetness felt like a cozy hug instead of a slap in the face. As I slurped my milky delight, I’d overhear them going on about rich notes and subtle flavors like they were wine connoisseurs, and I couldn’t help but think that coffee was just for those weird grown-ups who enjoyed adulting too much!

Then, I found myself drafted into the army—a rollercoaster ride of chaos and confusion. I gave in to peer pressure about as easily as a kid to candy, jumping in on my fellow soldiers’ coffee habit like it was an elite club. Turns out, this magic potion we call coffee was their secret fuel for energy and buddy bonding! But here’s the kicker: milk was often MIA in army life, making black coffee not just a drink but a survival strategy. It was like a siren song I couldn’t resist—almost like smoking, except with fewer lung-related regrets! Once those caffeinated habits latched onto me, they were like a persistent shadow at a barbecue—always there! Fast forward eighty years, and my morning coffee is still my best buddy; it’s a warm hug in a mug that I can’t live without. Even now, when I hit up a local diner, the smell of fresh coffee zaps me back to those army days—reminiscing over simple sips amidst the organized chaos of life.

For over ten years the best time of day was breakfast with a hot cup of steaming coffee with that aroma of smoke in the room from that cigarette. I did wise up when I was 28 and quit the nasty habit of smoking. That was the best thing I ever did in my life. However, I will be enjoying that hot cup of coffee every morning until the last day.