Eccentric Tea Woman

  One of the things I have missed since leaving Memphis was Burke's Books in the Cooper-Young District of Midtown Memphis. They are the oldest bookstore in the city and in having such an honour like that, you can be sure to find anything and everything within their store. I remember many years ago that the bookstore was located in an old building at 1719 Poplar Avenue in Midtown and then Corey and Cheryl Mesler bought the bookstore in 2000 and moved to Cooper-Young in 2007. Yet, the "feel" of that bookstore was still the same with a smell that I always affiliated with Midtown. That smell seemed to be a mix of old paper, vanilla, rainwater, and earth. Some of the older apartments in Midtown had that smell and I loved it every time I walked into a building or a friend's home. Or, even my high-rise apartment in a historic building that was possibly haunted. But, that's another story.   I feel terrible that I didn't go to Burke's as much as I should. It shoul

After Thomas accidentally burned my arm with his cigarette, I quickly kissed him. I knew he was shocked; after all, I was in pain due to him being careless. But, seeing as how I'd had too much to drink at the party, kissing the most laid-back person there seemed like a really good idea. When we pulled away, he stared at me a long time, then took a drag from his still-lit cigarette and said - want one? Seems like you deserve it now. He shook out one from his crumpled pack and I eagerly took it, even though I wasn't a smoker. I tucked it behind my ear and replied - so, now that we're better acquainted, tell me more about this book you're writing. His eyes lit up as he dove right in - a story about a man with no name who decides to hitchhike and collect stories along the way. And, he said as he waggled his cigarette at me, before you ask, yes, I did that last year. Actually, I wasn't going to ask him, but he seemed to think it was truly that important. I live my life b

  (art by Brittany Lewis ) Me: Good grief, it's COLD outside! Whew! (taking off my thick coat, gloves, hat, boots, and then sitting down on the couch)  Tea Muse: (calmly sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea) Well . . . we ARE in Colorado, ya know. We've got several months of this and then BAM, it'll be Spring again. (Takes another sip) You just gotta be patient. (Snaps her fingers and a cup of tea appears in my hands) Me: Ahhhh, thanks for that. (Looking outside the window) I love the snow - so quiet and pretty. Thank goodness I'm off today. Nothing to do but read and stay warm.  Tea Muse: Hey, ever had a tea slushie? Me: Wait . . . that's a THING?! Tea Muse: Be right back! (flies outside, gathers snow in two mugs, then reappears next to me) Alright, here we go! (Sets the mugs on the coffee table) First, we need snow. Me: Check. Tea Muse: Then, I'll turn our tea cold (wiggling fingers at the mugs and making weird noises) Oogie bimbo blah blah BAM!  Me: (laughing) Chec

  A snow day means that I can finally rest. Grey clouds hover over our little slice of Hipster heaven, reminding me that thou art mortal and not the culmination of my wine glasses. I see you standing in the kitchen, watching the coffee maker with red eyes. You're still feeling last night - when we went to that party that you claimed you didn't know anyone and yet you managed to chat with five people. I hold my warm cup of sencha tea to my chest and think - thank goodness my addictions are quiet. I want to freeze this little moment, this grey coloured space in time, and save it for when we're complaining about the heat. When we're cranking up our air conditioning, only to remember that it will be Winter in three months. Still, I am grateful.  Inspiring music - Into That Good Night by the Paul Shinn Trio   Try the tea blends of Viridian Tea Company - Tea Blends for the Strange and Unusual! Click HERE for the link to the Etsy store!

  One of my earlier memories regarding Classical music took place when I attended a summer session at Andover Academy in Massachusetts. I had just finished playing tennis and was on my way back to my dorm, when I noticed that a girl walking ahead of me was singing a song in another language. When I asked her what she was singing, she gave a melodramatic sigh and replied with - Opera . It wasn't a sign of someone who was in love or in awe of the music, but rather the sigh of someone who couldn't be bothered to speak with someone about her love of opera. I then asked her which one and she replied Madame Butterfly, to which I told her that I knew of that opera. Many years later, I was able to see that opera performed live, thanks to Opera Memphis . In any case, Classical music has been a part of my life for years, but only recently have I truly given it the due respect it deserves.  Truth be told, I adore Classical music and will play it as much as I can. I love listening to Class

 After two snowstorms within several days, Denver Metro shoveled itself out of the blinding white and resumed Life as usual. I'm still convinced that the people of Colorado are part mountain goat, mostly because of their resilience during the winter months, but I digress. The Printed Page is one of those places that you find when you aren't looking for it. A hidden gem of a bookstore, one that I know will covet most of my money in the near future. When you walk inside, jazz music greets you while shelves of books entice you with their clever titles. The clerk, an older woman with a smile you can feel beaming from behind her mask, welcomes you in and within seconds, offers you a bottle of water. How's that for being personal? This "bigger on the inside" sanctuary of books is the ideal place for a relaxed day of reading and keeping quiet. Even if there are others enjoying the bookstore, you don't really notice them. Everyone who enters The Printed Page suddenly

  She dreamt of running away. Running away from her never-ending bills, her job that demanded everything from her, her relationship that had gotten dull and predictable. She wanted to pack one suitcase and never look back. And yet, she knew that she couldn't. She knew that things would eventually get better for her. The only problem was that she was too impatient. She wanted things to happen within seconds. In digging deeper, she also knew that she was afraid. She was afraid of being content with what she had. She always looked at others as a measure of what one needed in order to be "happy". Yet, what exactly did it mean to be happy? A persistent smile on one's face? A can-do feeling about everything? A desire to ignore what could be painful or not fair? She sat on her bed and stared at the empty and open suitcase that lay at her feet. Just one movement, she thought to herself, and I can run away. I can do this, I know I can. Just then, her boyfriend walked into the

  (Arcadian Books and Art Prints - New Orleans) Happy New Year - let's hope that 2022 will be a good one for all of us. Bookstores are, in short, my lifeblood. I can't imagine my life without them. Several of my tea blends in my company were inspired by books! In a way, it makes me feel good to know that when I walk into a bookstore, there's a really good chance that I'll purchase a book (or three or five). I love the moment when my eyes find a title that seems intriguing or hilarious, or one that makes me think - what the ever-living fuck?! Whenever I visit a new city, one of the first things I do is scout out their bookstores. Not the immense chain stores, but rather the one located on a back street, or one with a sign hanging outside that looks to be older than dirt. The bookstore that has tables sitting outside, filled with hardbacks and paperbacks that are ready to go home with you. You walk inside and immediately, the scents of lavender, old paper, vanilla, and