Old Man Characteristic One: The Joy of Scavenging

It seems a bit improbable that I would be writing this on a Wednesday morning. Joy and morning used in the same sentence?  Impossible.  Normally, this would warrant a demerit from my fellow old men, which likely would result in tearing off a corner of my OMC Entry Card.  We *are* supposed to be slightly jaded, after all.

Last night, I had a moment that would make the heart of any old man flutter enough to make him worry he'd forgotten to take his Plavix.  I was running an errand at Kroger, and in true old man fashion, was digging through the bargain buggies.  That's when I landed on this beaut (see picture below).

Coffee, glorious coffee!

I couldn't believe what was before my eyes.  A Cuisinart burr grinder - one I had been fantasizing about for two years now - was laying in that cart with the old-man approved price of $24.99.  I couldn't pay my podiatrist that much to shave my toenails!  Normally these babies run for a cool $50 or $60, depending on how many coupons you've accumulated for Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Eagerly, I arrived home, plugged it in, and ground my first set of (decaf) beans.  Glorious grounds!  Each was perfectly and uniformly formed.  In all my days I've not seen something as miraculous.  I loaded up my coffee maker, added some filtered water, and pressed brew.  It was like torture waiting for the coffee maker to finish.

I don't know if it was the thrill of victory at a bargain, an unusual set of delightful beans, or a combination of the two, but in my 27 years of life I have never tasted a cup of coffee as delightful as I did last night.  The flavors rolled over my tongue with hints of citrus, vanilla and roasted sweetness.  I practically dropped my cup of coffee I was so surprised.  I was in heaven (figuratively speaking, of course).

Moral of my story: bargain buggies can be your friend.  Ninety percent of the time you'll walk away empty handed, but the one time you find that gem makes every trip worthwhile.

Harumph and keep sipping,
Old Man Sam