Intervention

On numerous occasions I have mentioned that I might be a wee bit addicted to Starbucks.

Like most addictions it was a gradual process. I first started off with Quick Trip cappuccinos. I usually got a mocha, occasionally a french vanilla. I started drinking them when I worked in a hospital lab in Tulsa when I had to go in EARLY... we're talking 5:00 am some mornings. I needed the caffeine boost, that and the cheap sausage biscuit. But I never inhaled! I just slowly sipped.

I'm trying to remember my first trip to Starbucks... its funny, you think you would remember the first time you met someonething that meant so much to you. I do remember the intimidation-- Carmel Machiatto or Mocha Latte? Half Caf, DeCaf, Extra Shot? Soy Milk, Whole Milk, NonFat? It was almost too much so I stuck to what I knew-- Mocha.

And so began the love affair destined to be written of in blogs, well mine anyway.

Moving to Little Rock probably triggered my move to big time caffeinated drinks. Quick Trips didn't exist in Little Rock and other gas station cappuccino dispensers just didn't cut it. I mean really, nothing says "Mocha Latte" like a Shell gas station.

I do know that Starbucks became a regular part of my routine when I started working as a kitchen designer. Often I was so busy that I didn't have time for lunch so I stopped every morning for my Grande Mocha and blueberry muffin or scone. The people there knew me and would sometimes have my drink started before I walked in the door. It was my own personal Cheers, only I don't ever remember them all yelling "Denise!" as I walked in the door and I KNOW I would remember that. But after I adopted Jenna I decided to leave the outside working world and Starbucks became a rare and beautiful thing.

Over the years since, I have found ways to feed my addiction find money for drinks and Starbucks has become a bad habit that I have had a hard time kicking. Only I think I found a way...

I rarely go inside a Starbucks. HELLO!!! That's why they made drive thrus! Many milestones have occurred while waiting in line in a Starbucks drive thru. Important talks with my children, finding my first gray hair, singing High School Musical duets. Good times. Good times. But staying in that lane is driving my addiction. No pun intended. Wait, its a good one -- OK pun intended.

This past Saturday Julia took a sewing class at Joann Fabrics which started at 9:30. I had been good and hadn't been to Starbucks in 2 days. I had even drove past a Starbucks and didn't stop. (This from the woman who thinks it would be rude to pass Starbucks and not stop by and say hello.) So to reward myself for my self control AND the fact that I had everyone out of the house by 9:10 I thought I deserved a Starbucks. I dropped Julia off at her class and proceeded to the nearest Starbucks. Unfortunately, it didn't have a drive thru.

I drove into the parking lot and realized this might be a major undertaking. I had Jenna, Ryan and Emma with me. First I had to get them all out of the car, across the parking lot and into Starbucks. Easy Cheesy, you say? Emma still doesn't walk and isn't the most petite of babies these days. Ryan usually wants to be carried in places he's not sure about and Jenna, well, I was hoping that she would be a helper.

Thankfully I got them all unloaded and carrying a child in each arm and one hanging on my purse we dodged the incoming traffic. I'm the first to admit I want my Starbucks but slow down people! They're not going to run out! Trust me if they did, you'd hear about it on the news and when was the last time you read that headline?

We got inside, Ryan let me put him down and we faced our first obstacle: A Line. I was expecting it. It was Saturday morning a little before 10:00. The world was up, semi-awake and needing their drug of choice coffee. Of course the cooler of drinks was just all too much for little hands and both Ryan and Jenna had to have a juice bottle. Emma could care less about the drinks. She just wanted down on the floor so she could practice standing and then literally throwing herself onto her belly on the floor looking very much like a beached whale, her new favorite trick. No way, sister! It may be Starbucks, The Awesomest Place On Earth (as told to me last week by the employee at the drive thru) but the floor is still dirty. So I held a squirming butterball as I finally made my way to the counter.

Drinks were ordered, Ryan's juice was scanned after much protest (he thought it was being taken away) and donuts were requested. I had just realized these poor children hadn't eaten breakfast yet. Of course, Emma is grabbing at everything in site as I'm trying to order. I'm having to angle my body in an odd and unusual position to actually be close enough for the employee to hear my order over the dim roar of the people around us but keep Emma far enough away that she isn't crawling over the register trying to play with the stacks of cups. The order is complete, paid for and then we wait.

I had ordered a drink for Ross, who was still at home. most likely still asleep. Sweet Ross has been known on many occasion to stop at Starbucks and bring me a drink, paid for with his own money. If nothing else, this would entice him out of bed. But it dawned on me that getting the children, 4 drinks and a bag of pastries across the parking lot and into the car might be difficult.

I had Jenna and Ryan wait at a table while the other drinks were made. Emma was freaking out because they both had straws for their drinks and she didn't. Off to get her a straw. Straw falls on ground. Crying ensues. Get another straw. Where are those drinks? Ryan wants his donut-- not yet! Finally the drinks are done.

Ryan held his drink and Jenna's hand. Jenna held Ryan's hand and her drink. I held Emma on my left side along with my purse. The pastry bag was on my right arm. My keys were in my right hand as well as a hot drink and the other hot drink was in my left hand. Got it?

(Note the amazingly lifelike artist rendition}

We made it to the curb and faced the incoming traffic. I looked at Ryan and Jenna and said "We can do this!" and we made our way across the parking lot without any accidents or damage.

I haven't been to Starbucks since.