This is indeed an article to profess my love of coffee, because without it -- I would not be the perky, happy person I am.... well, maybe I would, but I would also have a headache from caffeine withdrawal, so it really isn't worth giving it up.

I have such a strong relationship with coffee, that it is crazy to think there was a point in my life I hated it. Here is my love letter via the history of me and coffee and how our relationship first began.

You see, as a young child who grew up with parents who drank coffee every single morning, I loved the smell of coffee. I loved waking up in the morning to the smell of fresh roasted coffee. Sometimes sneaking a sip of my father's because he took it black with no milk or cream, which I always thought was so cool. But I can say with complete and utter honesty, whenever I tried of sip of that hot, brown liquid, I was so disgusted with the taste I knew I would never be a coffee drinker.

I used to imagine myself as an adult picking up coffee for my office friends and having hot chocolate in mine. I thought, "I can pull off never liking coffee, no one will ever know!" I loved the idea of coffee and truly thought it was the coolest drink you could order, but every little taste bud hated it.

So, the following years went by with my continuing to test my taste of coffee. Sips here and there, until my family took a trip to Disney land when I was a sophomore in high school.

We had a long day at the park, followed by a delicious dinner, and then dessert. I had just returned from the bathroom when I saw all my siblings and parents (sans my sister who had tea) had cappuccinos.

Now this was not just any cappuccino, but to me, this was the king of cappuccinos. It had foam perfectly swirled in a little white mug with a crystalized sugar stick to stir in on the side. I'm telling you in my eyes -- this thing was pure gold.

I looked around and asked where mine was, to which my brother answered, "Well, you don't like coffee."

And in the moment, whether it was the youngest child in my, the young girl who always wished she loved coffee, or my Irish stubbornness, I blurted out, " Yes, I do!"

It came a surprise to myself that those words had come out of my mouth, but once I said them there was no turning back. Suddenly I had my very own cappuccino sitting in front of me and I knew what I had to do. So I drank the whole thing. I could not show weakness in front of these pro-coffee drinkers. So I drank every last drop of that cappuccino and hated every. Single. Sip.

I wish I could tell you that was the moment I found my love for coffee, but it wasn't. That moment still changed my life because it sparked the taste for coffee, so months later I was like, "You know what sounds good right now? Coffee."

It was one of those things where I do not remember where the hate ended and the love began, but coffee hooked me.

From then on I slowly became addicted and the rest is history. I love every single thing about coffee. I still think about the young girl who made faces when she took sips of her fathers coffee, as I stand in line and order a large black coffee.

So as I sit here sipping on my latte, I want to say thank you coffee. Thank you for not giving up on me and being persistent. I am now yours for ever and always.

XOXO,

Your caffeinated and grateful friend.