Royalty and Royal Tea

As we begin February, we dedicate time to the remembrance of extraordinary people.

Black History Month, though many have taken issue with this term of recognition, I will still post my traditional acknowledgment.

This month I take a look back and take the time to reflect, though each day of the year, I am aware of who I am and my current place in this world.

In reflecting, I decide who and what I will write about and why.

These days, each day brings such disquieting uncertainty and our environment reflects these conditions in many ways.

People are becoming ever more impatient, intolerant and just plain nasty.

People I have admired and respected have fallen a notch, though I continue to practice “it’s better to understand than to be understood.”

Although, when people try to “sell you a bill of goods” claiming errors they committed are your fault, this is where we draw the line.

One such incident occurred at tea time with the ladies this week.

The server took our order and upon bringing the selected completed dishes to our table proceeded to give my friend a dish she did not order.

The server was wrong but was adamant my friend had ordered the dish.

I had clearly heard the order and verified that the chicken dish she was placing in front of her was not the salmon she had ordered.

The server tried three times to insist that my friend ordered chicken.

My friend stood her ground and politely repeated she did not order chicken.

The server then left, chicken in hand and checked the order receipt.

Yes, my friend had indeed ordered salmon, the server made her apology and proceeded to correct her mistake.

My question, why was the server so insistent? We all make mistakes. The quickest resolution is to check the facts and apologize and rectify.

But then I digress.

The incident above and many circumstances I have encountered recently, prompt me to take pause and think of what is and have been most important to me.

So, therefore, I will honor and recognize Three Ladies that, through their influence, courage, and strength helped to mold who I am.

Yes, I will honor a few ancestors, The Amazing Three.

Aunt Sarah, Aunt Frances, and Aunt Jane, oh these ladies!

The epitome of class, dignity, and stature. I tear up just thinking of them.

They are my Grand Aunts, acting grandmothers, as my maternal grandmother passed in childbirth when my mom was thirteen

Each born on the isle of Jamaica, WI.  Aunt Jane went to Cuba to seek her fortune, Aunt Sarah and Aunt Frances came to this country to make a better life for themselves and never forgetting the family and sister back home.

During this period Jamaica was still a British Colony, so “proper English” ways enforced.

Included in the many “proper rituals” were many cups of tea, as tea was a staple.

I remember those evenings delicate china cups and saucers, silver teaspoons (note I hated the silver as I was the designated silver polisher), a teabag dipped ever so slightly in each cup for the children, milk and sugar and a biscuit or sweet treat along side.

At this time they enjoyed finding out how we were doing in school, tell us stories about “Home” and our history.

They worked for other families “the park avenue wealthy” and would tell us recount how the “other half” lived reinforcing the importance of hard work and education being the key to our future.

They were very close to those families and also helped to raise their children.

Taking pride in the work they did and excelled at being culinary wizards, educators and house managers, they kept everything running with precision.

They were skilled at entertaining, setting beautiful tables, creating banquets for 100+ guests in the mansions and summer homes.

So today I will prepare a memory in their honor and drink English tea style, my choice will be a fitting compliment to the royal ladies.

This choice, New York Breakfast, from the outstanding collection of samples provided by Royal Tea .

A medium bodied, balanced smooth cup …a blend of black teas hailing from India and Sri Lanka combining Assam TGFOP, Ceylon and Darjeeling Black Tea. This tea can be drunk without adding milk and sugar, the way I prefer to take my brew today.

 

 

Of course, back in the day, a teabag was the choice for tea, though I am certain, if my Aunts were here today, loose leaf tea would be the only option.

I hope this post serves to encourage those who may be struggling their current circumstances.

Whatever you are doing, whatever your status, walk with pride, do with what you have, appreciate where you are, give it your best.

Cause some little one is watching you, and your influence, your pride, your dedication, and display of strength and courage will encourage them one day, to keep going no matter what.

In these most difficult of times, stay close to the one’s you love and remember and honor those who have gone before you and create lasting memories over a cup of tea.

 

“If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path*.”

The Buddha

*http://extraordinary.org/

Thanks for reading