Coffee, Tea, and Me

   I’m not a coffee drinker.  My morning beverage of choice is a mug-full of apple juice, with one ice cube.  I do enjoy, however, the occasional coffee-type beverage:  cafe mocha, iced blended mocha, and hot chocolate.

   Recently, while at my local Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, I noticed the signs for the bags of coffee they sell.  And I realized, that my personality was written on those shelf tags.  I can be succinctly summed up using the same adjectives that describe international coffee beans.

1. Light and subtle.  I am Caucasian, which means that my skin color is considered light.  Subtle, in many ways, I hope.  My sarcasm; usually just hints of exasperation will do the trick.  My fragrances; I don’t want to be leaving a trail of scent behind that makes the elevator ride uncomfortable for the following passengers.  
2. Light and distinctive.  I do not wear dark clothes, nor do I outline my eyes with dark eyeliner.  However, I want to be distinctive; I want to stand-out and not look like everyone else walking in and out of Coffee Bean.  My jewelry, I think, achieves that goal.  Rings on eight of my ten fingers.  Earrings and necklace to match the day’s outfit.  Two bracelets, a watch, and an anklet complete the ensemble.
3. Medium and smooth.  I am of medium height at 5’6”.  And my daily application of lotion is to try and maintain smooth skin.  I want my hands to be welcomed, as I tenderly smooth my son’s hair and kiss him good-night.
4. Dark and distinctive.  I am not a blonde-haired, blue-eyed California girl.  I am instead a brown-hair, brown-eyed California girl.  And while my jewelry may make the top part of me distinctive, my footwear takes care of the bottom part of me.  I am a person who is almost always walking around in a pair of clogs.  And unlike other California girls, no high heels or flip flops can be found in my closet.
5. Decaffeinated.  I pride myself on being rather level-headed, sensible, and down-to-earth.  I am not overly hyper or overly loud.  When I was teaching, I was frequently told that I had a calming way with my students.
6. Flavored.  Anyone who peeks inside my bathroom will find a cornucopia of flavors that are used to cleanse my body.  In the shower, it’s blackberry sage tea shampoo and conditioner with a cherry blossom and wild bamboo body wash.  For my skin, it’s a vanilla brown sugar foot scrub.  And to smell subtly pleasant, it’s a red plum and freesia fragrance mist.

   There you have it.  Wendy Kennar, in a coffee bean (instead of a nutshell).