Tea for Two

Tea with a good friend. A break in the day to pause and enjoy a small moment in time. An art which has disappeared from our American culture. Unsure if it really ever was part of our culture. Popular in European culture which values that friendly break to enjoy a fine cup of tea flanked by sweet treats and coupled with a dying art of face to face conversation. I stand in my kitchen waiting for the whistle of the tea kettle to break the silence of my empty home.

The rat race, jamming schedules packed keeping the busy mom on the run. No time for that quant notion of afternoon tea. A table set with flowery decorative tea sets, perfectly arranged scones or muffins, and finished with a fresh flower in a small vase. Relaxing with a good girlfriend chatting about life and joining each other in smiles and laughter.

I have a ritual of sitting on my front porch at the cute and decorated small table for two. It is set for two in hopes a neighbor will stop on their Saturday walk and take notice. Start an opening conversation from the sidewalk then come join me for an afternoon tea. Talk of our lives and neighborhood sights. With time we would grow into close friends. I’d have someone. It is lonely here. My husband passed. Children grew and moved out complete with packed family schedules, and I can only sit and hope they find a way to pencil in mom.

Every Saturday late morning, I lay out the tea set and sweet treats as my large Maine Coon cat, Journey, watches me with his green curious eyes. I set the pink flower painted cups with gold rims on the matching saucers. I bring out the pedestal tray of cinnamon buns. Small plates, forks, sugar bowl with tongs for the small cubes (I like the way they look compared to granulated sugar), creamer, tea spoons, pale yellow linen napkins, and a white linen table cloth adorn the table. I have a small crystal flower vase for the center with two freshly cut pink roses from my rose bush. To complete the setting, the matching tea pot filled with hot brewed Earl Grey tea. I set down the pot on the tea pot warmer.

I gaze down at my classically set table ready for afternoon tea. I scratch Journey behind the ear as he sits on the porch railing and purrs.

“Well, it looks as pretty as a picture Journey,” I say as I sit and pour myself a hot cup of tea. He responds with swish of his bushy tail and a slow blink of his eyes. I add a cube of sugar and stir with a small tea spoon. The clink of the spoon on the porcelain accompanies the sounds of birds chirping and children playing outside someplace down the block.

I also dress for afternoon tea in a cotton sun dress to match the warm spring morning. It is my favorite. Sage green with white daisies print. It all looks very inviting I must say. I open the newspaper. Not much to it being a small county paper. I enjoy the gardening section. They have a club, maybe I should join. Might be nice.

Afternoon tea. Time for a real pause. I real break for human connection. To put phones away. To grow relationships. Something simple as a taking effort to set a table and make sure snacks are fresh and tea is good quality to remember a simpler time before filling a day with work, baseball, dance, school, etc. I was there once upon a time. It all ends at some point. Children grow up and husbands die and you wonder what was it all for. Never stopping to enjoy a small moment in time. Stopping and slow down the moment. Talk. Really connect.

I remember how wonderful dinners were. We would gather at the table surrounded by good home cooked meals. The meatloaves, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Dinner rolls and iced tea. My grandmother’s table cloth. Cooking for my family always filled my bucket. Love is in a meal. Dinner was my favorite time of day. Time slowed. Sharing knowing glances with my husband as the kids chatted on about their day at school, up coming games, and friends. I always felt the closest to my family round the dinner table. Another missing piece for families today eating on the run in the cars. Home cooked meals replaced at the drive through window.

I take a sip of the warm tea and start reading an article about growing a spring vegetable garden when I hear the sound of a small dog barking. I look up and see a neighbor walking her fluffy Pomeranian dog. Journey must be triggering the dog’s need to warn the cat of how ferocious he is. Journey just stretched and looked back feeling very unthreatened by the ball of hair on a leach. I wave at the woman and smile.

“Wonderful afternoon.” I give my most inviting smile.

“Oh yes. Sorry about my dog. Come on Leo,” she said as she gently tugged on the leash.

“It is quite alright. Journey does not really mind. My name is…..” I didn’t really get to complete my warmup conversation as she pointed to her ear sporting earbuds and turned continuing, she strolls down the street.

I cannot but help feeling slightly disappointed and annoyed at the same time. Society is so very trapped in their own separate bubbles. I remember as a child the ladies of the neighborhood always got together or always stopped by each other’s front yards for a quick visit if your neighbor was outside. Those days are long over. I’m not sure we will ever see them again as long as people live through devices and are untrusting of each other. Sad it is this way. They are missing out on so much without the human side of living.

Yes, maybe one day a neighbor will take notice of a lonely lady who always makes tea for two.