Editor’s Note: Remember the good old days of blogging? We do. Quite a few writers and editors who have passed through Tweetspeak’s doors (or are still here) first began as personal bloggers. Many of these writers have let their blogs go dormant, changed directions towards a professional aim, or deleted their blogs altogether. So, there’s a whole stack of intriguing, inspiring, sometimes humorous material that’s just sitting in the dark. The Life Notes column is dedicated to bringing that material to light. Because, after all, each of us comes from the stories that made us. And these stories often shine in the retelling.
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An Ann Kroeker blog post, November 11, 2011
Tea is Necessary
I was tired, so I made tea.
Though I often crave caffeine, I can only tolerate it until noon, when I must stop drinking it or risk lying awake until two in the morning. Fortunately, I glanced at the clock on the stove: just after 10:00 a.m. I had time.
I spooned some caffeinated black tea into a paper loose tea filter, lowered it into the deep pottery mug, poured steaming water from the electric tea kettle over it and let it steep while I answered a few e-mails. A few minutes later, I returned to the kitchen and drizzled some honey into the mug and stirred. Breathing in the aroma, I knew this would keep me going for a few hours.
Both physical and virtual paperwork awaited, as well as phone calls and e-mails. Later in the day, an errand or two. The to-do’s of the day were flowing like the steady stream of a kitchen faucet—not as forceful as a fire hydrant nor as annoying as a drip, but I had to pay attention or the sink would fill and overflow, figuratively speaking.
So I kept at it, task after task, decision after decision, e-mail after e-mail, errand after errand. These things weren’t overwhelming; just steady. Somewhere in the afternoon, though, I needed a pause.
My cup, as it were, was empty.
I’d drained my literal cup of tea, and I had drained my figurative cup, my very self, of rest.
Life needs pauses.
I’d scheduled tire rotation and a medical test for my daughter, shopped for groceries and filled the gas tank; I printed off papers for my daughters’ schoolwork and agreed to bake brownies for a church function.
But…a pause. I needed a pause.
Late in the afternoon I returned to the kitchen and opened the cabinet to stare at my boxes of tea. I saw some chai tea. Decaf. By then it was past 3:00 p.m., so I could only handle decaf.
Filled the tea kettle.
Instead of racing around the corner to my desk, I leaned against the counter while the water boiled.
I waited.
Paused.
How easy it would be to check my phone for e-mail while the water boiled.
But, no. I paused.
And when the electric kettle bell dinged, I lifted the plastic kettle from its base and poured hot water over the tea bag, watching the bag rise with the waterline, all the way to the top, before it was soggy enough to sink. I took hold of the tag and dipped it down and up several times then let it settle at the bottom.
I briefly considered carrying my drink to the desk, but changed my mind. Instead, I walked to the table and sat for a moment, both hands hugging the mug to warm my palms.
Tea, I decided, is necessary.
Tea, I realized, is a slow-down solution.
Tendrils of steam drifted up from the glimmering dark surface of the tea and dissipated.
I lifted the mug and blew across the top, making ripples.
Then I tilted the mug and the tea touched my lips.
Slowly, I sipped.
Featured photo by きうこ, Creative Commons via Flickr. Blog post and mug photo by Ann Kroeker. Reprinted with permission.
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Sandra Heska King says
The TV was on. I shut it off. Because just reading this again was a pause, and I wanted to savor every word. I dumped the rest of my first cup of coffee. See me walking to my tea cupboard… hmmmm, let’s see, Tazo English Breakfast? Oh, here’s some Winter Forest Black Tea from Plum Deluxe. It’s also got Joy and Gratitude it in. See me steeping it? Then I shall head to a patio rocker and watch the birds on the pond. Ahhhh…
Ann Kroeker says
Thank you for slowing down with me, sipping together our favorite blends. You are a gift.
Bethany says
I see you steeping, Sandra. Raising my two-handled mug to you. 😉
Sandra Heska King says
Clink… 🙂
L.L. Barkat says
… and I? Just realized I oversteeped my tea and went and rescued it! 😉
Love this memory piece, Ann. Tea is still… necessary. More than ever, I feel.
Ann Kroeker says
Agreed. I paused mid-morning to make a cup after a hectic start to the day. Each sip, an antidote to pressures and stressors.
Donna says
This is such an important reminder… and who says a pot has to be watched, or a kettle for that matter? Eventually, it will boil… and in that time, we can have a lovely pause.
And honey is fun. I found my honey jar when we visited the kids in PA this Christmas – I had the honey dipper, but no jar until then! I love putting honey in my husband’s tea cup every morning – letting the gooey thick goodness get caught up in the ridges, the challenge of getting it to the cup without losing a glob along the way, and then watching it bulge and drop under its own weight into the tea.
Thank you for such a beautiful morning break, Ann.
Ann Kroeker says
That sounds like a lava lamp experience each morning, only healthy and sweet! Thanks for sharing how honey serves as a delightful, animated addition to your tea!
Megan Willome says
Ann, how did I miss this one back in the day? Or maybe I’ve just forgotten it over the last five years. It’s perfect! I’m going to put up a link so the early workshop-ers can check it out before we officially start Tea Time on Monday.
I think my favorite part is you watching the bag rise and then sink. Such a common detail, fully noticed.
Bethany Rohde says
A refreshing piece, Ann.
Love the white space you carved out.
Ann Kroeker says
I wish for everyone to find some white space, and comfort, if only for a few minutes while sipping warm tea.
Sandra Heska King says
I keep coming back to look at this picture…
Angela says
I love the imagery of ‘tendrils of steam’ and ‘ripples’ across the hot tea, Ann. Really enjoyed reading this. It was a much needed pause in my day. Now, I need some tea to warm me! Thanks!
Ann Kroeker says
How lovely to have you note those details. I hope you got some tea today–and perhaps, somewhere, another pause.
SimplyDarlene says
Ann, I like how the first line and last line bookend your intentional, slow beauty. Together, they’re my takeaway today.
I was tired, so I made tea.
: :
Slowly, I sipped.
Ann Kroeker says
Thank you for seeing that, Darlene. You have the eye (and ear) of a poet.
Linda Simone says
I loved your blog. Like you, 12 noon is the bewitching hour…no more caffeine. But an afternoon decaf chai and my after-dinner lemon ginger ensure me that each day, tea calms me through to-dos and helps me breathe a cleansing breath. Tea is life.
Ann Kroeker says
That decaf chai sounds delicious. Perfect. I might steal your afternoon ritual, Linda.