A Cup of Christmas Tea

Written and Compiled by Teri E. Popp and Laura Chin, Tastemakers in Residence

Holidays bring families and friends together from near and far to remember fond past memories and forge new ones. In “A Cup of Christmas Tea,” and the later written “A Memory of Christmas Tea,” both written by Minnesotan author Tom Hegg, and illustrated by Warren Hanson, cherished memories surface during a Yule time visit.

Before my eyes and ears and nose was Christmas past . . . alive . . . intact:

     The scent of candied oranges of cinnamon and pine

     The antique wooden soldiers in their military line;

     The porcelain Nativity I’d always loved so much . . .

     The Dresden and the crystal I’d been told I mustn’t touch . . .

     My spirit fairly bolted like a child out of class

     And danced among the ornaments of calico and glass.

     Like magic, I was six again deep in a Christmas spell,

     Steeped in the million memories the boy inside knew well . . .

     I sat alone with feelings that I hadn’t felt in years.

     I looked around at Christmas through a thick hot blur of tears . . .

     She poured two cups, she smiled, and then she handed one to me.

     And then we settled back and had a cup of Christmas tea.

In keeping with our Christmas flavored theme, our host for W3 Book Club chose to serve the following menu for our special holiday party:

Finger Sandwiches

Fruit Kabobs

Mixed Greens and Berry Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Dressing

Thick Cut Pork Chops served with Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Wild Rice and Cranberry Hot Dish, and Brüssel Sprouts

Wuollet Bakery’s Princess Torte

Earl Grey Classic Hot Tea

We finished this lovely evening by taking turns reading “A Memory of Christmas Tea” to help us all remember that the best gift at Christmas, or any holiday, is the gift of time spent with our loved ones!