Let me explain.
The other night it was really cold and
dark outside (snow in March, what?! So much snow!), while Hubs and I were warm inside and the kitchen light seemed
particularly bright. Talking, talking, it was a cozy sort of back-and-forth. I
had my chilled hand (always the right one) wrapped around my heated cuppa and was leaning forward in
earnest, gesticulating (I like to pound the table, you?) to emphasize my point.
He leaned back in the mismatched orange
vinyl chair (everyone's favorite kitchen seat) and nodded, shrugged, then said, “Here’s the thing, Deb. You just
want everything to be a tea party.”
Which caught me off guard, because—huh—it’s
true.
In fact, it’s so true that if I had a
satchel (brown leather, please) where I could store a thermos of hot water (one of those green ones with the silver screw-top, can you see it?), bundle up some of my
assorted tea cups (the ones with the handles broken off are my favorite, I just can't bring myself to throw them away), maybe put in a long cloth and a small table with folding
chairs (wooden, probably, since they'd be lighter and therefore easier to stash in my magic satchel), I would no doubt carry it around with me while running errands (produce section would be lovely, don't you think?) and ask
people to relax and join me for tea (because who doesn't get just the littlest bit overstressed while grocery shopping?).
Or, you know, whatever their preferred beverage.
In heaven, I just want to chill. To
chat. To sip at warm things. What about you?
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You should go grab some tea and I’ll
bring some table topics, let’s have a small share of heaven right now. Here are a few things on my mind of late, what do you think about any or all of them?
Or even better, what's been nabbing at you?
I have to write something for the writer's retreat I'm going to this weekend and I. Just. Can't. I think I'm overthinking it. Simplify. That needs to be my mantra.
ReplyDelete*gasp* That! Yes, that is exactly the word I was thinking of this morning when I was laying on my bed, hiding from my life responsibilities. One thing at a time, simplify, simplify...
DeleteGood table topic, Julie. I love your chats. Have so much fun on your retreat!
I discovered something today, while panicking at work, taking a step back and a breath for a moment (or even a cup of tea, that would be awesome) works wonders for providing clarity.
DeleteHave a fabulous time this weekend Julie xx
Seriously...I'm with you! Why can't life be a tea party! Let me grab my top hat and we can sit and talk YA for a while.
ReplyDeleteI read it way too much, I get way too invested in the characters and I'm sorry to say I like the romances. I would love to say I read them all for work, that it is all so that I can relate to the teenagers I connect with through the library but honestly?!?! I wonder sometimes if I am just clinging onto my youth or if I just like a nice easy read to chill out with after a hard day. Or maybe I just don't have issues with the romances because I see little pieces of my teen romance that turned into life long love in those pages? The whole 'he hates me, he loves me' thing that turned out to actually be love. The all consuming infatuation, that probably wasn't at all healthy but turned into a marriage with two beautiful children. But I can see the dangers of the glamorisation of this kind of treatment from boys and while I agree that I would rather my girls learn that Prince Charming level respect is the correct sort of treatment to expect is that what they will get in reality? Or will we just be setting them up for disappointment?
Please tell me all that pondering came with a nice vanilla roibos with a spoon of honey in a chipped tea cup ;-) Never stop brewing tea Deb xx
I'm enchanted, and enjoying both the tea and the company. If brewing tea will keep this coming, I'll certainly never stop.
DeleteHi Sleepy! You know what?! This is kinda funny... I thought of you while I was writing that post. Sometime way back you told me your love story and I thought then and remembered now, that it was pretty cool that it all worked out - just like a story! :) As for my post & the YA thing: I've been reading the things for months now. One after another. Obviously, I enjoy them and obviously I don't see anything wrong with that. My main objection to the romantic arcs in most stories I read (across genres) is that they don't portray anything terribly realistic, no matter how they're portrayed. I think the whole "Prince Charming" notion is just as harmful as the glamorization of abuse. Any time we start thinking in stereotypes and stock characters about real people, we're in a little bit of trouble. I just noticed that the love-hate theme (and honestly, it's more than that in some cases, it's downright abusive. In the series I just finished, the boy violates the girl TWICE and she's understandably angry and hates him but then decides that it's because she actually loves him.) has come up pretty consistently in recent years and it makes me wonder... is it a mirror or a catalyst, you know? Any time themes recur in popular literature, it gets my wheels spinning and I like to wonder why? and how come? and what for? It's what I do. Anyway, it makes me giggle that I thought of you & your story while I was writing it and then boom! there you were! :) *waves* Hi!
DeleteWaves Hi back. You don't half get me thinking you two!! I have been pondering your post Lou since it went up and I think it was Deb's tea party that made me sit for a while and actually try to articulate. But in truth I am no nearer formulating a coherent and articulate response to your post Lou, I think I am still a little on the fence!! It makes me smile though that you thought of me when you were writing :-)
DeleteIf only I had the time to share what's been stewing in my brain lately. I do, however, agree - mosty - with the post on YA lit. Probably a little bit hypocritical considering my book is a YA novel with a romance in it. I think *all* kinds of media portray unrealistic romance. This has lead to a culture that makes dating complete awfulness. Bleh. I think it is an injustice to young people. I am trying to make the romance in my book much more realistic than what is generally portrayed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, very cute, although completely incomprehensible; I'm trying to be more positive and have a good self-image, so I appreciated the 30 list; and I'm glad I have a body that works--I have some friends who aren't so lucky. :0)
Thanks for sharing!
I love that the cuteness shines through my getting lost in the translation, though :) How fabulous that you gave me thoughts on so many of the topics! This makes my heart happy.
DeleteAs for the YA stuff -- like I said, I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it ;)
This is great cause I could picture the exact conversation you and your husband were having as you described it. Great visual imagery and yes I'm positive that we will have tea parties in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteHaha! You've also been right there pounding the table with me in the past, which is so classic *happy sigh* You and I shall have tea parties, at the very least, and they shall be divine in every sense of the word.
DeleteThis is such a delightful post (and not just because you linked my silliness...) Ahh, tea parties. I can picture your magic satchel so clearly. I bet it's nice and warm and cozy in there, too.
ReplyDeleteStrange side note: I don't often get over-stressed while grocery shopping. I quite enjoy it. A tea party in the produce section would make it just that much more enjoyable, though. Well, if I were invited to it and didn't have to navigate around it in order to touch and smell all the produce.
I'm intrigued by this heaven as half-pipe thing...
Off to read your other links now. Thank you so much for sharing the wealth. In so many ways.
We need to do tea, lady. Or chai? It's on my bucket list: Visit Washington [x]; Visit Washington and share bev with TangledLou [ ]
DeleteYes, oh yes! I'm poly-amorous with the hot beverages. I like the ritual of tea, the comfort of coffee and I have a very gooey soft spot for the spice of chai. I'm a mess. Come and we'll drink them all.
Delete