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The
texture of my foundation is transmutable. A strange way to start a
piece I know, but it was the word that came to me as I began to make my
first cup of tea of the morning. In America the beverage of choice is
coffee, but for many Canadians such as myself, tea, the antecedent of
our British heritage, is the beverage of choice.
Today,
I purposely linger over the teabag before I introduce it to the hot
steaming water. It is a wonder how a little square paper package
containing this heavenly brew can mean so much to me. I examine the
packaging, a rough porous paper, though I am not sure what it is, it
resembles cheesecloth and also rice paper, but I will leave that aspect
up to the chemists of the world to decipher. For now I am content just
to look at this paper and to drink in the wonderful aroma of the tea
that is within. For the first time I notice a little design crafted
onto the paper. The paper at first glance appears strong almost
sterile, yet it is not, it is multifaceted; a metaphor for life.
Strength and gentleness, sterility and beauty are contained within the
same packaging.
I
remember the days of my youth. As a young child, I was very nervous
around people I did not know. My fear and anxiety extended beyond the
home to my elementary school years. I was so nervous I used to vomit
every morning before going to school. My stomach was always queasy. I
could not eat breakfast. I would bring it back up. My grandmother
tried everything and the only thing that I kept down was tea. So from
the tender age of six-years-old, I became an avid tea drinker.
Just
like British children, a continent away, this Canadian girl depended
upon the rich, strong, robust flavour of tea as her daily beverage of
choice. For me, tea meant comfort, security, love, and a way to help me
battle the fears of the day.
I
return to the present and drop my teabag into the hot steamy water.
Today more than ever, I yearn for its homey flavour and for its magical
properties that transform my life. I remember the famous worlds of
Eleanor Roosevelt, the great American first lady who said:
"A woman is like a tea bag. You never
know how strong she is until she gets into hot water." I
revel at how true these words really are for me.
I was a
child who was very afraid of the world, my daily cup of tea, made me
strong; it helped me to deal with the overwhelming pressures of the
school day.
Today I
am battling some very heavy issues, which at quick glance seem as
insurmountable as those of my childhood. But like the teabag, I do get
stronger in hot water. I do transform from a frightened child to a self
confidence woman who can take on the issues of life as they come to me.
Like Eleanor Roosevelt, and my beloved grandmother, I know that my
foundation is solid, my experiences have taught me well and I am brave
enough, strong enough, and courageous enough to handle all that life
offers me.
Carol Roach
winterose@videotron.ca
A
Native of Montreal, Quebec, Carol is a graduate of Concordia, and McGill
University.? She holds a bachelor in psychology and a Masters in
counselling psychology.? Carol Roach is a published writer and
newsletter editor.? You can purchase her book: Picking up the Pieces: A
Woman's Journey at
www.publishamerica.com, or
www.amazon.com.? You can also go
to your local bookstore and order it there as well.? Carol??™s second
book: Angels Watching Over is currently looking for a home. Stay tuned
for details.?
If you are
interested in other stories feel free to join her newsletter: Storytime
Tapestry at:
http://subs.zinester.com/98907 ,
or email her directly at
winterose@videotron.ca and she
will be glad to accommodate you.? Carol enjoys email and responds to
every inquiry.
Carol Roach, M.Ed, B.A
winterose@videotron.ca
Publisher: Storytime Tapestry
http://subs.zinester.com/98907
Author: Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey
www.publishamerica.com,
www.amazon.com other online bookstores or you can order it at your
local bookstore
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