Katie Hawley is the wife of a Smart Digital Employee, Ethan Gottfredsen. Katie grew up in Springfield, IL and is currently a “Super Mom” in St. Louis, MO. Her interests are being a mom to her son, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.
Katie has always had a special connection with her mother and authored this for us to share with you.
“Coffee.
Growing up, I watched my mom drink coffee every day. She always drank it black. And I wanted to, too. But there was a problem: while it smelled delicious, it tasted terrible! Cream, sugar, didn’t matter. Coffee tasted gross!
I remember giving her coffee for every holiday. My dad would take me to the mall, and I would stand there, holding each little bag of coffee beans, one at a time, inhaling its aroma until I found the perfect one. I usually settled on Irish cream or vanilla. I loved to give her “good” coffee, something special.
As I grew up, I continued to give her coffee beans for most holidays. I watched as my little brother started drinking coffee, and I hoped that one day, I would, too.
And then, just after my 23rd birthday, I got a job in a coffee shop. It was now my job to drink coffee, know about coffee, talk about coffee. I remember putting cream and two sugars in an espresso sized cup of coffee. But! It didn’t matter! I was officially a coffee drinker!
And so it began, my lifelong love of coffee. The longer I worked there, the more I fell in love with coffee. I visited other coffee shops on my off days, I began brewing coffee at home. I started drinking black coffee, then espresso. I loved it!
I drink coffee with my mom now. I still give her coffee beans for almost every holiday. I love that we have this special time, just the two of us, and I know she loves it, too. I’m a mom myself now. My son watches me drink coffee every day, but he hasn’t started drinking it himself yet. I hope as he grows up, he will, and we can have that special time together. Thank you, Mom, for giving me a love for coffee, and an even deeper love of being a mother.”
By Katie Hawley
Smart Digital
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