I love coffee. I love tea. I love a java jive and it loves me… That is the first line from one of my mother’s favorite songs by Bill Kenney and the Ink Spots. Last week, while I was pretending to be Julie Andrews twirling and singing “these are a few of my favorite things,” I realized that there are a few things that always make me smile. And a hot cup of tea at around 4 o’clock in the afternoon is one of them. It reminds me of my English Auntie Dobbin who taught me to heat the tea pot with hot water before adding loose tea, cookies are selected during the four minute steeping process and if you really want to do it right—china cups and cloth napkins are a must. Very civilized but also definitely an anti-stress process that sooths and refreshes. Thank you Aunt Dobbin.
My life as been filled with hot beverages. As a child I was awakened before dawn on Saturday mornings by the sound of hot coffee being poured into a thermos—a sure sign my father and I were going fishing. Perking my first pot of coffee (we used to make it that way in the “old days”) heralded adulthood in a way being able to legally drink or vote never did.
I responded to an ad in match.com asking me if I would drive a hundred miles for a good cup of coffee. I was drinking a latte that I had just driven 6 miles for so I thought it was a bit short but hey… I wound up driving 125 miles to meet my sweet husband Phil and the rest, as they say, is history.
I’ve owned stock in Starbucks, included a picture of their logo in my photo quilts, and bought a cappuccino machine—a real one that froths the milk to a perfect 140 degrees. It makes the most impressive noises but the cats are not impressed. I have closed million dollar lighting deals over espresso with Sambuca complete with three floating coffee beans on top—it’s called Samuca con mosca (literally, "Sambuca with flies"). Yuck! The Italian restaurateur who served it said they represent love, life and laughter. Much better!
Coffee and tea are some of my favorite things… “and when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad.” Thanks, Julie, you were right!
***You can tell me what your favorite things are by leaving a comment, no need to sign up for anything, leave it as anonymous and include your name.
