BI
Bruce InCharlotte
Feb 10, 2026
Headed to a cardiologist follow up appointment and, yes, I probably shouldn't have stopped for another coffee this morning. Not exactly a brilliant idea, but I did it anyway because sometimes the small comforts win out over common sense, especially before sunrise when the world is still quiet and you're trying to ease into the day.
This Dunkin' sits in South End and for reasons known only to them, the outside lights weren't on before dawn. I drove past it twice, wondering if I'd imagined the location entirely, before finally spotting the darkened entrance to the parking lot and easing in. Once inside, everything was business as usual with the full lineup of flavored coffees, donuts, and the familiar parade of baked goods that always seem to glow a little under those warm display lights.
There are a handful of tables where you can sit with your laptop, and that's exactly what I did. I settled in for about a half hour, sipping my coffee, warming up, and letting the morning take shape at its own pace. It wasn't anything fancy or memorable, but it was a small pocket of calm before heading on to the appointment, and sometimes that's enough to make the stop worthwhile even when you know you probably shouldn't have made it in the first place.