Meanwhile, let us take a sip of tea...

I am forever indebted to my best friend Markham, a friend I've had since my diaper phase. He is the one who introduced me to tea. Up until that point, I basically knew Lipton and maybe Earl Grey. Tea was a bitter enemy, something to be drowned in lemon juice and lots of sugar. Then, a whole world was opened up to me, one of spinachy greens, bright and clear silver needles, burlap pu-erhs, and complex oolongs. I read books. I studied and sipped. I crawled into wabi-sabi Japanese tea houses and played Go by the soughing bamboos. Bliss.

Today, S1 and I retreated to Ching Ching Cha, a place of secret tranquility. I had the Oriental Beauty, a deep rich oolong from Taiwan. Gold and delicious. S1 had the orchid oolong. Floral with a touch of sweetness. Peace after a long, hard day.

"The first bowl of tea moistens my throat,
the second breaks my loneliness, and
the third bowl racks my brains, bringing to light the texts of 5,000 volumes.
the fourth induces perspiration whereby all ills evaporate through my pores.
the fifth makes my muscles and bones feel light, and
the sixth links me to celestials.
Be careful when drinking the seventh bowl,
as it makes you feel as if a cool breeze were coming from your armpits."

~Lu Tong, Chinese Poet of the Tang Dynasty

Submitted by S2