All politics is local
“Won’t you please come in?” The woman was impossibly frail, but refused a helping hand from her kneeling position in a bed of spent narcissus. “If I start taking a hand, I won’t be able to get up by myself… Continue reading
Tag Archives: sharing tea
“Cup warming” – A tea-tasting social
I enjoy the time I spend on my own in our cupping room, studying, scrutinizing, and slurping as I evaluate current and new teas. As part of the job, I’m afforded the opportunity to get to know familiar teas in more depth… Continue reading
Tea and samurai
“Thus prepared the guest will silently approach the sanctuary and, if a samurai, will leave his sword on the rack beneath the eaves, the tearoom being preeminently the house of peace.” – Kakuzo OkakuraJapanese warriors – samurai – followed Bushido, a code of conduct that stressed frugality, loyalty, mastery of … Continue reading
Sweet and spicy mornings
My teenage stepdaughter and I recently discovered something we have in common besides two X chromosomes. Pretty cool, eh?Recently I started a new job. The company provides employees and contractors with reasons not to leave the office, such as a large bowl of fruit in the break room, and a … Continue reading
Afternoon tea
On an unusually warm and clear day, late in September,a dragon and a hare sat down for tea.The mighty dragon coiled himself up small enough to sit comfortably.The hare stretched up tall to appear strong as he reached for the pot.An unlikely pair the two of them appeared to beon … Continue reading
Cups of humanity
“Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others.”- Okakura Kakuzo, The Book of Tea “Toreshi San, Toreshi San! Are you there?” greeted me each morning during the late fall/early winter that year in Japan. No matter … Continue reading