Dearest coffee,

I love you.

You are my favorite caffeinated beverage. To some, you may just be a bitter, hot, brown liquid. But to me, you are all things good in the world. You have the ability to make my day better with your warm, aromatic embrace and I honestly don't know what I would do without you. From keeping me awake long enough to write my midterm papers to giving me energy first thing in the morning, you are always the perfect pick-me-up on days when I need a little boost.

Since I was a wee seven years old you have been a staple in my daily routine, and without you I would be a completely different person. You've gotten me through breakups, college rejection letters, first and last dates, and, of course, the occasional hangover. You've been with me through it all and for that I am eternally grateful.

Coffee, you've also been critical in fostering the bond between my father and I. Ever since that fateful day he gave me my first cup of you, which was admittedly mainly milk, we bonded over our growing caffeine addictions. Now we're two of the biggest coffee snobs on the planet, with him only purchasing his coffee from one local coffee shop and me refusing to drink anything less than a dark roast, and we share one caffeine-riddled opinion on your wonderful nature.

And while I'm at it, let me extend a brief thank you to your closet confidante, the coffee shop. I don't know if I would have made it through my senior year without the welcoming arms of the local coffee shops in Tulsa, which provided a place for me to not only study for the ACT and write my admissions essays, but also as a place for me to complain about my ACT scores and cry over the colleges that decided I "wasn't a good fit." You and your friend the coffee shop are a true pal to me and without you my existence would be a sad one.

You're both the real MVP.

Much love,

Miranda