Tea Time

The tradition of having tea in the afternoon was introduced to me when I was four years old. Mom set up a child sized table and chairs in the backyard, complete with tablecloth, cloth napkins and a child sized tea service. On one occasion when I was having tea, Pepaw and Memaw came to visit and Pepaw came outside and had a cup of tea with me.

Later Mom and Dad, Gail and I traveled through Europe on a vacations back to the States from Africa where Dad worked as a petroleum engineer for Gulf Oil. While in London, we stayed at the Ritz Hotel where tea was served every afternoon. We dressed in our Sunday best and went downstairs to find a well appointed tea room. We sat on upholstered chairs around a small table with a tea service and scones. I can close my eyes and picture my mom showing us how to hold the tea cup properly.

Many an afternoon I have had a cup of tea with family and friends over the years.

Then Janna and I were invited over for tea Katy Stokes and this is the scene...
An opera lp is playing on a turntable in the living room. Her house is immaculate and there is a lace table cloth on the dining table. A tea angel - a porcelain angel holding a pot of tea, sits near the center of the table where there is also some sprig of flower or vine from her yard in a small vase. A candle completes the center piece which she lights when we take our seats. The table is set with lovely china tea cups and saucers, cloth napkins and and spoon. Lemon slices in a small bowl fill the air with a clean scent, four slice and bake cookies are displayed on a tray. A few small framed family pictures grace a table nearby.

She greets us at the door and invites us in, mentioning something about the opera as she goes over to turn it off at the end of an aria. Her diction is pleasant and precise thanks in part to her late husband who was the diction coach at Baylor and also the "voice of Baylor" serving as announcer for sporting events. Her posture hints that she took years of ballet. Even at 80 years of age she is graceful and gracious.

She invites us to sit down with her and have some tea. She pours each cup, offers more through the hour and passes around the cookies. She tells us stories about her late sweet husband George and quotes passages of beautiful poetry. She asks questions and listens with intent. I am transported to a different time and place completely captivated by this lady from Mabank, Texas.

Today I have the honor of having over two lovely young ladies and their lovely young mom and I enthralled with the prospect of spending time with friends and passing along the tradition of afternoon tea.