A Nice Cuppa Tea

Everyday Amens

Mum welcoming our youngest, Ian, (middle) for Christmas, who just walked in the door to “a nice cuppa tea.” Notice the extra large cup with dogs on it :) - My brother, Adam (l) with his Gigi and hubby John (r) with our Beatrice (Jack, the corgi refused to be in the picture)

For as long as I can remember my mum’s remedy for anything you can think of was to offer up “a nice cuppa tea.” I have called her “mom” since I have been in America for so long, but for most of this, I will call her “mum.”

I am most certain if you are British you will relate.

My mum is the British version of “Marie” on Everybody Loves Raymond, except not as conniving, although most convincing. So convincing is she that we gave her the rap handle, “Tenacious B” (for Beryl). Mum’s tea is the only tea you must share a cup of. If it’s any other house, you can politely decline. I can remember the old tea kettle on all day growing up. These days the kettle is electric. It’s 8pm right now and I can see mum watching t.v. with her tea and dessert.

Here is a perfect list of “Tenacious B’s reasons for drinking tea:”

1.  "Just because" at 8am, 11am, 2pm, and "tea time" which is about 3:30ish (oh and after dinner.   Maybe twice.)
2.  When it's a birthday or holiday ("extra special tea") 
3.  When you've had a blah day
4.  When you've had a good day
5.  When you've had a great day
6.  When you've had a bad day
7.  When you are spent from being in the shops for one hour
8.  When you're physically hurt
9.  When you're sick
10. When it's really hot outside.  "Hot tea will cool you down."
11. When it's cold outside (obvious)
12. When mom is drinking tea
13. When friends and neighbors pop by

My sweet mum taught our children all the above reasons for drinking tea, and now this nana is passing it on. In fact, when I put the littlest down for a nap she says, “Nana, we have tea after?” Of course!

One of the best stories was when my parents were watching our children one evening. Of course I gave out the instructions, as young moms do, i.e., please make sure they eat their dinner, or no dessert... and bedtime is at ____, etc. Our youngest son was about three and a natural con artist. The other two were older and always ready for bed. After reading a few books, a kiss goodnight and lights out, my mum heard a little voice asking her to come back. She obliged, kissed him goodnight again and left. She heard his voice again. She thought she would go back one more time and that would be it. After telling him he really needed to go to sleep, he repeated mum’s most common question, with a big smile on his face, “nice cuppa tea????” This story always makes us roll with laughter. Of course she couldn’t oblige, but promised tea at another time.

I caught myself in the garden today, with my hot tea, realizing it is a huge part of my life. More so, it is a way of feeling close to my mom, to her mom, my nana…. to my Granddad Gunn, his shaky hands handing me tea upon a visit home with my first baby, and mostly, to my roots… to all of my family in England that is ready to serve a nice cuppa tea.

Mom stayed in Oregon, after dad passed in 2021, as she couldn’t bear to be away from his presence in her small quaint town. Luckily for mom, who’s almost 88 years old, my brother is taking good care of her. What a blessing. I’m in Southern California and we speak most days on the phone, often at teatime (you can guess what time that is - insert laughing emoji).

We love our road trips “home” to Oregon a few times a year and you’ll never guess what we talk about as we are getting closer?

“A nice cuppa tea is waiting for you when you get here :)”

Thank you mom. I love you. There is no one more beautiful than you. Even if we’re all drowning in tea. oxox

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Cheers to the things we do to draw near to the ones we love. The everyday amens.

Tell me, is there something you do? I really want to hear :)

Mom and I in the garden last fall :) For all the tea we drink, we rarely take pictures drinking it!

Smiling big in a cozy tea shop in Eugene, Oregon, last November. This was the moment my brother and I discovered “frothy tea.” Never going back to regular tea after this!