Egyptian Wonder

I’m always amazed at how much ancient civilizations achieved, often leaving us to pale in comparison. And I am even more amazed at their feats if you consider that they did not have one of our daily stimulants to get them going: coffee.

Mornings are the worst part of my day. When I first wake up, the Monster of Morning Dread is usually sitting right on top of me. He’s a heavy, gruesome fellow made of rusty metals that grind and clack as the gears of his innards churn and turn. He’s also part animal, almost bearlike, a sulky, nasty, mean-spirited bear who does his best to make me stay in bed with the covers over my head.

The only thing that can really conquer him is a large cup of coffee. Why that works so much better than orange juice, a cola, or tea is probably due to the large wallop of caffeine that it delivers. Somehow, coffee subdues that monster, driving him back into the walls of my apartment and out of sight until the next day.

So the fact that the ancient Egyptians got so much done without daily coffee is amazing. Perhaps they didn’t have a Morning Monster that came to roost on their shoulders as soon as the sun came up. Perhaps drinking all that Nile water scared him out of town and into exile in the desert. If only I could do the same!