This week the flu hit me short and hard.
Maybe I should stock emergency canned coffee!
It wasn’t the symptoms that so much convinced me I was sick. It was the fact that one day I gave up on making coffee. Like, I just could not deal with it.
Never before had I yearned for instant coffee, something I could merely mix with water.
Better yet if I didn’t have to heat it. Like an Airborne for coffee, where the fizzing would make the coffee hot. #stealthisidea
When I finally roused myself from bed, I determined after reviewing my options (Chemex, French press, stovetop espresso, or coffee machine) that the coffee maker would be the simplest approach.
After all, all I needed to do was:
- Pour the water in
- Put a filter in
- Put coffee in the filter
I could do that. Right?
Turned out the plastic filter wasn’t in just right and the water flooded all over the counter. This I discovered after the fact.
My French press was still withering with the previous day’s coffee grounds. Washing that out was out of the question. So I did something I had not done in years. Drank tea. Bag in cup. Water in cup. Done. Back to sleep.
Clearly having fewer coffee making options is the answer.
Fast forward 2 days. I’m all better, or so I thought.
What to eat for breakfast?
I’m going healthy.
I pour some amount of oatmeal in a bowl.
Boil water.
Pour what turned out to be rancid almonds on the oatmeal along with some maple syrup.
Damn I’m healthy.
Add some milk.
I’m staring at a watery mess in a bowl, so used to instant oatmeal I’d all but forgotten you need to cook rolled oats.
I take a big plate and cover the bowl. Surely the liquid will soak in. Oatmeal is nature’s sponge after all.
It’s disgusting. But I eat it anyway.
Instant food = baby food for the sick
OK just after writing this I remember I do have a cup of instant breakfast by The Soulfull Project I’d stashed away for a camping trip.
And while I try not to use disposable packaging at home, this experience has been a good reminder to not only be an earthquake prepper but a sick-time prepper. Thanks to the brands that make instant healthful AND easy!
