Loss

[Daniel]

Requiem for a Teapot


Last night, as dinner was being made, and the table set, I put a much-loved tea pot on the counterspace in our tiny NYC kitchen, and, in reaching for something else, it got bumped and- crash- it fell -glittering shards flew across the floor.

To my credit, I didn't break down in tears, scream in horror or have thoughts of suicide. But a beloved companion was gone. You see the remains before you.

My gleaming gold Limoge 'Picard' teapot, which I picked up for a song at a Village Antique shop- and is now very hard, if not impossible to find- is now in humpty-dumpty land: never to be put back together.

My immediate thought? It's not a person. It's not my husband. It's not the friend arriving for dinner in ten minutes. Nothing lasts forever.

However, memories of afternoon tea with my favorite objet linger on. I have that at least. But even memory can leave us, no? In the end, what do we really have?

We have now.....this moment....this day....this time of space to either evolve or devolve, grow or let entropy take it's course. However you see it, nothing stands still.

People aren't objects, strictly speaking. And I can't speak for anyone else, but I've been present at many a funeral and upon looking at the body had the immediate impression that the person I 'knew' wasn't 'there'.

Odd, isn't it?

My rambling has led me to this: let us cherish each other while we can, for while the nights may seem long, the days are short.

[andrewlittle]

I DO understand attachment to objects, because of the memories they trigger or simply the pleasure they give when being used.

Being English, I can also appreciate that a teapot may be one such item.

Don't have a gold Limoge one, but I can and will keep an eye out in the various little stores we frequent upstate. You never know what we might find ...

[pnggrad79]

I am sorry for your loss Daniel. Fortunately, things can be replaced more easily than people or relationships. I hope you find another lovely teapot to replace it.

[keltic63]

thought about you as we browsed at Goodwill this afternoon. would be so cool to find a treasure like that while shopping Goodwill.

[Daniel]

Guess what I found on ebay today?

Same shape, size, and maker.....along with 2 cups and saucers, creamer and sugar, dessert plates....c. 1910....a Tea Set!

I went for it! Not the steal I found with my old pot....but you know what?

Tea is serious business.

[pnggrad79]

May your new teapots put your old ones to shame. Hope you fall in love all over again!!!

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by pnggrad79

May your new teapots put your old ones to shame. Hope you fall in love all over again!!!

Thank you my darling!

But nothing can compare to one's 'first love', can there?

[Alecto]

I think the new ones have a classier elegance about them than the old.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Alecto

I think the new ones have a classier elegance about them than the old.

Still.....I am a real magpie when it comes to teapots. The more gold the better!

You'll have to come try them out.....

Afternoon Tea. 3PM. Sweet and Savory. Civilized conversation and lots of laughter.

[Zerbie]

Sorry for the disappointment of an unexpected goodbye to the old teapot.


And congratulations on the lovely new tea set!

I would love to visit for tea!! Keep praying that things work out so that DH and I can actually be in NY in June. I don't know WHEN we're supposed to know one way or the other. . . !

[Alecto]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Still.....I am a real magpie when it comes to teapots. The more gold the better!

You'll have to come try them out.....

Afternoon Tea. 3PM. Sweet and Savory. Civilized conversation and lots of laughter.

I ever find myself in the neighborhood, I'm there.

[andrewlittle]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Still.....I am a real magpie when it comes to teapots. The more gold the better!

You'll have to come try them out.....

Afternoon Tea. 3PM. Sweet and Savory. Civilized conversation and lots of laughter.

(Inviting myself to tea.) Would crumpets, strawberry jam and clotted cream be on offer?

[Vanessa White]

It just proves that love can be found again, right friend?

So glad that you have reconnected with another tea set that caught your fancy. I agree with Andrew, objects remind us of things/events/people that we like to call to mind. I have learned to let go of objects more over the years, but still cling onto those that hold deep memory for me.

Of course, I don't need the object to hold the memory, it just makes it so much more real, in the moment for me. It takes me back.

I look forward to sharing tea with you one day....

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by andrewlittle

(Inviting myself to tea.) Would crumpets, strawberry jam and clotted cream be on offer?

You bet! And perhaps watercress sandwiches and scones. Whatever suits your fancy Oxy will conjur...though I draw the line at Marmite.

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

It just proves that love can be found again, right friend?

I look forward to sharing tea with you one day....

Hmmmmm. First it has to arrive in one piece! And as for sharing, it looks like a Tea Party is in the works....it's just a matter of when.

[tymejumper]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Guess what I found on ebay today?

Same shape, size, and maker.....along with 2 cups and saucers, creamer and sugar, dessert plates....c. 1910....a Tea Set!

I went for it! Not the steal I found with my old pot....but you know what?

Tea is serious business.

I understand the seriousness of tea. All the other therapists as work drink coffee. I however, drink tea. I have my favorite teas, Jasmine, Darjeerling and in the morning English Breakfast. I can tell the difference between decaf teas and caffinated ones. I can name the tea by the taste and smell. I guess I am a tea nerd.

I even get very frustrated when others do not know that colas and coffees have way more caffiene than a cup of strong hot tea. People are still confused though, and try to tell me that coffee actually has less caffiene than tea. I had to get a grip on myself because I got drawn into an argument about the relative caffiene levels of beverages in relations to tea.

As for losing a beloved object, I once had a beautiful shirt, a poets shirt that I always wore with my favorite short black skirt or jeans. It was a highwaymans shirt with a frothy collar. I LOVED that shirt so much that if my house burned, and I could save one non-living thing, it would have been that shirt! Well, I hung it up on the back of my bathroom door one day to steam it during a shower(it was dry clean and this was how I got the wrinkles out)and left it there. My husband(when I was married to a man)at the time went and without looking sprayed the hinges of the door with WD-40, from the front side, and it got all over my shirt. Nothing, would take the stains out and finally all the stain removal techniques made holes in the shirt. I CRIED for days about my shirt, and its been 15 years, I have looked everywhere and not been able to replace it. So, I am glad you could get a new tea set! Enjoy it

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by tymejumper

I understand the seriousness of tea. All the other therapists as work drink coffee. I however, drink tea. I have my favorite teas, Jasmine, Darjeerling and in the morning English Breakfast. I can tell the difference between decaf teas and caffinated ones. I can name the tea by the taste and smell. I guess I am a tea nerd.


Yes! We have Assam for breakfast (strong stuff!) and a second flush Darjeerling for afternoon (first flush is too green and we like our tea with milk). And or course, with tea comes all the 'stuff' that goes with it: tea pots, tea cups etc.

I even get very frustrated when others do not know that colas and coffees have way more caffiene than a cup of strong hot tea.

You are right. And there is something else worth mentioning: tea- for whatever reason- has a charm that coffee does not. It really- as the British note- can calm one down when upset or pick one up when down. It's a very versatile fluid. I can have a cup in the afternoon and take a 20 minute nap. Nothing better. Coffee? That won't happen.

People are still confused though, and try to tell me that coffee actually has less caffiene than tea. I had to get a grip on myself because I got drawn into an argument about the relative caffiene levels of beverages in relations to tea.

Teas is- shall we say- civilized!

As for losing a beloved object, I once had a beautiful shirt, a poets shirt that I always wore with my favorite short black skirt or jeans. It was a highwaymans shirt with a frothy collar. I LOVED that shirt so much that if my house burned, and I could save one non-living thing, it would have been that shirt! Well, I hung it up on the back of my bathroom door one day to steam it during a shower(it was dry clean and this was how I got the wrinkles out)and left it there. My husband(when I was married to a man)at the time went and without looking sprayed the hinges of the door with WD-40, from the front side, and it got all over my shirt. Nothing, would take the stains out and finally all the stain removal techniques made holes in the shirt. I CRIED for days about my shirt, and its been 15 years, I have looked everywhere and not been able to replace it. So, I am glad you could get a new tea set! Enjoy it

ah......I mourn your loss! Losing people is perhaps the hardest thing, but things that we love, that help bring out who we are? They are a part of the fabric of our lives. That said, of course, in the end, we have to let everything go.

Keep looking. You may surprise yourself!

[tymejumper]

I LOVE milk in my tea, but it doesn't like me back! Sometimes though, you have to live dangerously and put it in there, and take your Lactaid first! People will look at you oddly for drinking milk in your tea. I thought it only an English custom, but my grandmother(yes, the homophobic one!) started me on it. Her father, my Great Grandfather, was from Ireland(O'Shae) and that is how he drank it.

The only tea I don't like milk in is of course, Jasmine. It is way to delicate a flavor to destroy with the heaviness of milk. I worked with a Physical Therapist from India and she made all her own Chai for breakfast. She gave me the recipie which I think I have around here somewhere, but I don't remember where now. I think she used the Assam Black for that.

I am going shopping tomarrow and I have about 6 coupons for tea. I love going to Meijers because they have so many types of teas there. Also, up here we have a Horrocks. It is a sort of fresh market store and they have a very fine selection of teas and wines. They also carry cheeses from all over the world.

Anyone care to discuss wines? I am also into gourmet cooking and pairing wines with it.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by tymejumper

The only tea I don't like milk in is of course, Jasmine. It is way to delicate a flavor to destroy with the heaviness of milk.

When we were in Toronto last, we stopped in at The House of Tea.

http://www.torontolife.com/guide/foo.../house-of-tea/

The mistress of the establishment introduced us to a Vanilla Rooibos that I have not been able to find anywhere else. And it is excellent with milk. And while there, she included a small sample of Jasmine that was handrolled into tiny balls. The amazing thing about this tea? You can make three pots with the same leaf and it doesn't get brackish.

The cost? At that time (4 years ago) $200 a pound. But I swear, if you had it, you would say it was worth the price!

[Zerbie]

Does anyone here enjoy herbal tea? For myself, I can ONLY take non-caffeine beverages, which limits me. But I have found I enjoy herbals (not so much the fruit flavors though, those are too sweet.)

I have wondered where and how to find other brands and flavors than the stuff in the grocery stores. I suspect, surely there must be more stuff out there. Anyone know??

[tymejumper]

[QUOTE=Daniel;52354]When we were in Toronto last, we stopped in at The House of Tea.

http://www.torontolife.com/guide/foo.../house-of-tea/

The mistress of the establishment introduced us to a Vanilla Rooibos that I have not been able to find anywhere else. QUOTE]


Meijers carries Rooibos also. I don't think you guys have one there in New York. If you have a close health food store, they usually carry it. I think mine is online, try HarvestHealth.com. I think that is the site. Or google Harvest Health health food stores in Michigan. I am sure the site will show up. Ther is one in Grand Rapids and one is Cascade. I bet you could order it from there. It isn't actually a 'tea' its not made from actual tea leaves, but it is treated as such. I'll look at Meijers tomarrow and see if they have it. They DO have a site(Meijers.com), you can order it from there also. Let me know if it works and you find it!