Well, it’s been interesting! I had only a few responses to my request for ideas how to deal with headaches or give myself an extra boost if I was feeling a little tired but had to stay awake and aware for the evening ahead of me without using coffee. Basically, other than sympathy being offered by other lovers of coffee, the only useful information was that headaches are often caused by dehydration, (though not always, of course) and perhaps adding more liquid to my day might stave off the headaches.

Now for the experiential part of the dilemma. I posted my message on Wednesday, having had coffee and tested my pulse on Tuesday. I didn’t have coffee for three days because of appointments that took me out of the house early in the day. That was good. When I did make my coffee – weak, half the amount of coffee – it was barely brownish swimming in the goat milk, but it felt good. However, I woke up the next morning with a headache – I think it actually woke me up – and it persisted into the morning. My friend insisted I should get some coffee since I had a busy day ahead of me and I might not be able to perform as I wanted, so we headed to the coffee shop at the market – and the headache dutifully went away. Yes, I know, it might have been a withdrawal headache. And yes, I was trying to drink more while I was in the throes of the headache. So we start again. Someone I once knew (a dancer) described progress as two steps forward and one step backward. I am not discouraged, just starting again, and hopeful that in time the new system will kick in. Perhaps if I had been able to stay with the original plan of half the amount of coffee every other day, I might have been able to stave off the headache. Perhaps this week will tell the tale. I don’t have to be out early any day this week! In the meantime, those of you who are addicted to prayer could offer a few words on my behalf, for which I’d be more than appreciative.