Birth of the Thirsty Seniors
A Conversation
It began at the senior center swimming pool. Margaret and Junie were sitting on the edge of the pool, legs softly swinging in the water, having an animated conversation while waiting for water aerobics class to start. When Maddie sat next to them, they looked over at her, grinning.
She smiled and asked, “two Cheshire cats? I wonder what Alice would say to that!” They all laughed, they were always laughing about one thing or another.
Margaret, the oldest having reached her early eighties, loved driving around in her old SUV going to second hand stores and flea markets searching for small furnishings which she repurposed and resold. She had been describing her latest project to Junie. Bubbling over with excitement, Margaret turned to Maddie and repeated her news: “$10.50, that’s what I paid for a patio wicker, a rocker with a solid wood back, a very unusual piece, and in good condition. All it needs is just a little sanding and . . .
“Paint of course,” Maddie interrupted, “I suppose you’ve already got an idea for what you’ll print on the back of it?”
Junie chimed in, “Crap Stops Here!” In a loud chorus, they all laughed again.
After class, Margaret suggested they stop by her place to see her new find. There, she was met with a barrage of questions as the others examined the rocking chair. Where do you think this was made? The patina is beautiful, why paint it at all? Is this back made of teak? Why not just a clear varnish? It’s beautiful! What’ll you gonna do about the nicks on the stretcher? Junie sat in the rocking chair, rocking back and forth, and started singing “I don’t need your rocking chair . . . I ain’t ready for the junkyard yet, ‘cause I still feel like a new corvette.” A round of laughter erupted when Maddie announced, “Lunch on me, girls, my place.”
A Confession
They had just finished chips and chicken salad sandwiches on croissants followed by small bowels of mixed fruits of strawberries, blackberries, and cubed honey melons. For dessert, Maddie delivered a plate of macaroons which was met with greedy eyes. Their attention quickly followed Maddie returning with a black faux alligator tray, a sleek steel gray electric kettle and three borosilicate tea cups.
“I was a Starbucks brat,” Maddie blurted out as if it was a confession of sinful extravagance. “When I was working, I donated a good chunk of my salary to Starbucks pastries and coffees, and always without guilt. It was my escape after another boring contentious meeting. When I retired, it was too much of a bother to drive to Starbucks just for coffee and pastries, so I started researching how to make my own specialty drinks.
“Coffee shops can be addictive,” Margaret mused, as she bit into a lemony macaroon.
Junie suggested, “It’s not just the overpriced coffee and pastries, and so-called healthy sandwiches, it’s the whole atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re part of some special class of people.
The Rabbit Hole
With an agreeing nod to Junie, Maddie continued, “Yeah, you’re right about that; but, I like the environment, ordering a specialty coffee or tea, cool music in the background, stylish commercial cushioned sofas and chairs, and the calming colors. Still, it’s fun to concoct my own coffee, my own tea at home.
I was looking for a good cha recipe when I got sidetracked reading about the history of tea, its origin from just one plant, the Camellia sinensis, how its variation and processings morphed into other types of teas; its expansion through trade routes from China to Japan, Turkey to North and West Africa, to Great Britain then India. The story of tea includes wars and rebellions,, imperialism and colonialisms, I might add; and the cultures and rituals that grew around drinking tea.
It’s really fascinating! I even bought a world map just to trace the route! Black tea, green tea, white tea, yellow tea; say nothing about herbal teas. Good Heavens, I had no idea just how expansive the world of teas is.
“Oh, dear, sounds like you're an Alice, sliding down the rabbit hole,” laughed Margaret. “So what did you discover about the medicinal values of tea?
“Please…,” Maddie groaned, “Don’t get me started on that. My poor brain could barely decide on which tea to try first.
“What’re we having? I’m ready, and I want a full report of its tea profile!” Junie demanded.
Maddie had opted to serve an oolong tea from the High Mountain area of Taiwan, a light semi-oxidized tea. Reading from her notes, she went on to say that this oolong has floral and grassy notes, that it offers a bright and sweet flavor and is an excellent pairing with the macaroons. She paused with, “You be the judge!”
They cheered her on, badgering Maddie with questions: Where did she buy the tea? These don’t look like leaves, they’re little balls. So how was the oolong processed? What’s oxidized? What does it do? Is it really good for your health? Maddie flipped through pages of her research notes to answer their questions.
That passion for new experiences didn’t wane for these senior ladies. Junie confessed that she would often forget much of what she had learned.
To which Margaret replied, “Yes, but you do retain some of what you learned. Besides, it’s not about remembering everything. No one can. The adventure is in the search, digging, and tripping through all the exciting places you go to learn. I once had a professor say you don’t need to remember everything, just know where to find the information.”
Maddie suggested, “That gives me an idea. Why not each of us research something we want to learn more about, then talk about it together.”
“I’m in. We can do it monthly, alternate going to each others’ homes, or go somewhere, any topic that piques your interest,” Junie added.
“Three Cheshires?” Margaret laughed, “or how about Thirsty Seniors! Who’s next? I’m game for an adventure.”