Tea Time Reflections: Finding Strength in Community and Renewal

This week I’ve been feeling tea. Maybe it’s my anticipation for when the heat will finally break. Maybe it’s the rhythm of the bustling return to school. Even though I’m empty-nested, my love for fall has been lifelong – pungent with anticipation. For me, it feels like renewal in the decay of the previous season. It’s leaving the slow-moving current of summer behind for the crisp rush of opportunity and the coziness of cool nights.

I’m ready for the whistle on my stove. My pantry is down to my last tea bag of my favorite brand – Twinings. So, I’m doing my weekly click list for my grocery shopping adding Twinings Earl Grey and English Breakfast teas. It feels good, self-nurturing, planning for comfort ahead. And, I’m stowing the fruity Celestial teas and the Newman’s Own that I haven’t touched since completing chemo and radiation. Having a cup of my favorite Earl Grey this morning felt like resurrecting a piece of myself.

But I’d like to expand my horizons and try some different teas now. I’m not sure what direction to go. With the tariffs driving up the cost of everything, I’m not sure what I can afford. I will scrimp in other places in order to enjoy quality. I’m still going to buy real Canadian maple syrup. I’ll also buy good tea from Great Britain. I’ve been researching Victory Gardens and depression living given the current climate here. I’m getting seeds to grow my own English cucumbers. The ones grown here in the states give me gastro distress and a mild allergic reaction.

My neighbors have been in a sort of prepper mode for quite a while growing a lot of veggies – canning and dehydrating them. At our church festival we had discussion of getting chickens. I have a tiny backyard so I don’t know that I reasonably have enough room to have them. If I did get them, I think that the opossum that sometimes lives under my back deck or Goose, the neighborhood cat, might go after them. But, even though I live in a city, we are allowed to have them. I checked.

I am so grateful that I moved to my 111-year-old house from suburbia seven years ago. There are no crappy HOA’s to deal with here. This house has its quirks, but it’s solid, as is the community that I’ve gotten to know living here. Everything one would need is within walking distance – a luxury not afforded to those living in suburbia – grocery, post office, library, and a fantastic mom and pop burger place, Bard’s Burgers. I can walk to the bakery and bank. Of course, I’m still rebuilding my strength and stamina, but I have all of these things to inspire me. My outing to the church festival on Friday wiped me out. All day yesterday I could barely move, even though I sat most of the time that I was there. But it was worth it.

When we were leaving the festival, Chris went to get some holy donuts. They are a coveted specialty from the church. I needed to go inside the attached school to use the restroom. I was struggling on the steps and one of the student volunteers stopped me and asked me if I was okay. She was working with other kids taking things inside. I assured her that I was okay, that I am still dealing with fatigue from cancer treatment.

When I came back out of the building and was slowly coming down the steps she approached me extending her hand to help me down the last few steps. She then asked if what I had said going in was true. I thought “oh boy” what’s coming next. I’m willing to talk about the cancer if someone asks but what came next surprised me and inspired me.

She asked me if I am in remission, active treatment, or no evidence of disease. I told her I am still in active treatment. She extended her hand to me and I quizzically took it. She told me that she wanted to pray for me if I would let her. I could see her open heart. I said yes. She told me she has a friend her age that’s been through cancer treatment now with no evidence of disease and to not give up faith in being healed, they were and with faith so will I.

As she prayed I felt a feeling wash over me that I can’t describe. I drew her in and gave her a big hug flooded with emotion. She had no idea the gift she gave me – maybe she did. It moved me and gave me hope in the next generation that everything will be alright. I really needed that on my two year survivor day since diagnosis. In this jaded world there is hope in the humanity of our communities if one is willing to be open about struggles. It’s been a truth I’ve experienced over and over on this journey.

Anyway, in my meander down non sequitur highway, what is your favorite tea and what special things do you do when enjoying it? Do you have any suggestions for me to try something new? And, finally, it would be great to also hear others experiences of humanity in what seems inhumane times.

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