A Tea Reader by Katrina Avilla Munichiello Read Free Book Online Page B

moving back to the Midwest where the weather was even drearier. I wanted to make this move, but the wanting didn’t make it any easier. I was leaving behind an incredibly strong network of friends. Two of these friends shared my passionate love for tea. I realized what a treasure I was leaving. I knew our friendships would persist, but it would be a tough break. As the hubby and I drove off in the wee morning hours, heading east under a full moon, I held a tender heart full of excitement and loss. It was a mixed blessing, this move.
    In the new town, I was fortunate to continue my corporate job while working from my home office. This situation held many advantages, like working in my running clothes. (That is, until we began using webcams.) Still, I discovered that working from home was harder than expected. While I loved not having to be in the office each day, I was sorely lacking companionship, especially from women. I had never realized how much of my daily social needs were met from work-related social interactions. I was isolated in my own lovely little home office. Once I began to feel settled, I tried connecting with a few women. I even held a tea party. Unfortunately, none of the participants seemed to share my spark for tea and I was growing lonelier. Fortunately, my tea-loving friends in the west were ever-faithful. We regularly chatted on the phone, wrote letters, and held virtual tea parties to keep in touch. These little and big things kept me going as I slowly made my way in a new community.
    I looked for ways to get involved and meet people. I made some collegial connections, but it seemed the union of women’s deep friendship continued to evade me. By chance, I happened to be in a social-service committee meeting when a woman brought in a homemade cake for a birthday celebration. Through the course of the conversation (and a heavenly slice of cake), I discovered her interest in tea. In fact, she hosted an annual and elaborate tea party for her girlfriends. It was a month away. Would I be interested in speaking at it? Yes! I jumped at this opportunity to connect with another tea lover and share my passion.
    Over the next several weeks, my heart sang as I grew to know this fellow tea lover (and baker extraordinaire). We planned the tea party foods, the teas to accompany the foods, the party favors and the program. She introduced me to another creative soul and the three of us formed our own tea adventure trio. Over several cups of tea (and a few tea trips), these new friends introduced me to the gems in my community. The sense of being new to town slipped away, while the sense of being home blossomed.
    Now, nearly five years later, I continue to feel very blessed. I’ve maintained close ties with my western-U.S. friends, feeling just as connected as ever. We hold virtual tea parties, which are fun, creative and connecting. We explore using Skype for video calls. We practice the age-old arts of letter-writing and postcard-sending. In my new home town, I revel in my circle of woman-kinship. I enjoy hosting friends for a simple cup of tea on the porch or a more elaborate tea party in my “parlor” (my living room). These two circles have even cross-mingled, and I look forward to more of that in the future. The tea cup of friends is beautiful.
    A full moon, a heavy heart
    A tea quilt set in blues
    Boxes full, set to depart
    Goodbyes and tears from you.
    A new home, so much to see
    Delight in treasures found
    A lonely time, a test for me
    A tea friend to be found?
    Fates prevail, our paths criss-cross
    Tea and cake, the theme is set
    A lighter load, and still a loss
    With new hope now we’ve met.
    On the phone, the voice is sweet
    And letters in the mail
    A visit soon, an airplane seat
    Then antiques; find the sale!
    The finest cup, the kettle start
    My two worlds now proclaim
    A cup of tea, a friend’s dear heart
    And tea, my cheer sustain.

After Twenty-Two Years
    BY R USSELL H IRES
    I