Tea With Grandma

by Brenda Ritchie

The year was 1963. I am a young child in Miami Shores, Ohio. We didn't live in one of those up-scale houses you are used to seeing in the typical American hometown story, but we did live down the street from Grandma's house. By the way, my Grandma, Louise Wood, was not the American dream of a Grandma, but she was a wonderful Grandma, tailor made for me.

I can at a moment's notice be a child again sitting on the white wicker glider listening to the musical teapot and drinking Grandma's special tea. I am not quite sure why, but Grandma, who was ill, babysat for me and my two younger sisters. For entertainment and to keep us all busy in one spot, Grandma would, with great ceremony, bring out the special china teapot and boil the water for the tea. Grandma was a healer and knew a great deal about the art of tea.

As we all sat watching quietly, Grandma would say, "O.k., let's wind up the teapot", and out would come the music, "two for tea and tea for two."

Grandma was a great storyteller and would tell us stories of the time when she lived on a farm. Her husband at the time was a ghost chaser, so the stories were so exciting. The music played softly as we began to make up stories of how we would someday have a farm of our own and live a very simple life where we could all depend on each other; having fun and helping each other along the way.

Then came the best part. When we finished drinking our tea from the china cup, our pinkies gracefully extended, we would quietly turn the cup upside down on the saucer. After a few minutes, Grandma would motion to one of us to bring our cup. Carefully held with both hands outstretched in front of us, as we tried not to trip, we would set the cup on the wicker table in front of Grandma and sit in the special chair. Grandma would look deeply into our eyes and tell us what the tea leaves said was in store for us. As she did, she would explain to us exactly what each squiggly line of blot meant and how she knew.

My Grandma was an amazing woman. At the same time, behind and so far ahead of her time. Just the thought of that music brings tears to my eyes. It's like a big hug from the Grandma I miss so much even twenty years after her death.