Tearoom Travels Revisited

Cathy Higgins and myself having afternoon tea at The Adolphus Hotel.

Hotel's skilled tea captain, Michele McCreary

Afternoon Tea Sandwiches (first course)!

"Sometimes a person has to go back, really back to have a sense,
an understanding of all that's gone to make them - before they go forward."
- Paul Marshall

I recently went to Dallas and had a wonderful tea time treat with my best friend Cathy. I called and made reservations for afternoon tea at the The Adolphus Hotel, http://www.hoteladolphus.com/. Served are the traditional cucumber and watercress sandwiches, and English scones topped with Devonshire cream and raspberry marmalade. The pastry kitchen also prepares a selection of petit fours and other delicious desserts. Each table is set with fine china, fine silver and crisp white linens. A pianist entertains tea guests at the ornately carved 1893 Steinway.

With the opening of A Spot For Tea we had not seen each other in almost four years...checking in only by phone every couple of weeks and having our girlfriend conversations sporadically as time allowed. We've been friends for over 26 years, and first met when we became roomates in our sorority house back when we were young, eighteen and carefree. We have seen each other through boyfriends, heartaches, we stood up in each other's weddings, we came to the hospital when our children were born and have the common fun task of raising all boys (she has two and I have three). We know each other's secrets, and we share common memories.

How we remember, what we remember and why we remember form who we are. When taking a backward glance, our mind can be fickle and our memories fragmented. That is why it is so important to have a touchstone (a test or criterion for determining the quality of genuineness of a thing). I am a firm believer that this can be a person that has known us for a long time and has watched us encounter many of life's ups and downs. This person helps us remain true to ourselves.

During the no rush afternoon of sharing four courses of tea fare and three different types of tea (Darjeeling, Pear Caramel and Rainforest Mint) we talked and laughed and time remained still long enough to feel connected. As a well known credit card commercial states,
"Cost of tea: $35.00 a person, connecting with an old friend:
PRICELESS." How valuable our friendships and memories.

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times. And a brother is born for adversity."