Each and every Wednesday morning departments heads at The Saratogian gather for a meeting of the minds and to-do lists. There's only one rule: Be on time. If you're not, you have to buy coffee for the entire group the following week. It happens about once a month.

Today I arrived at the meeting with less than a minute to spare with a pair of feet scurrying behind me (another colleague). She made it, too. Just in time. Typically my husband does drop off on Wednesday mornings. That way, my chances of lateness are less. But this wasn't just any Wednesday morning...

My husband is in Asia on business, so I had to drop off.

There is a detour in the exact 1/2 mile between daycare and my office on Church Avenue.

I forgot to preset the coffee last night and didn't have time to make it in the morning.

My son decided he wanted to sleep in today.

Once awake he challenged me at every opportunity.

I hugged, kissed and waved to my son with minutes to spare to get to work.

I arrived. This morning's sacrifice: coffee. Those who know me understand that no coffee doesn't look very good on me. I'm just better WITH coffee. Seriously, I cut down a few months ago and our online manager politely asked me to go back to drinking coffee. I did.

In the mad rush that's my morning, I made it work today. Phew.