Teapots

I finished one more set of cloth napkins

and mailed them off to a friend.

I bought the fabric years ago

with her in mind.

But I've just recently, finally,

decided what to make out of it.

This friend hails from Canada.

Prince Edward Island to be exact.

Back in our single days--

when we both had apartments

here in SoCal--

she taught me about the fine art

of brewing tea.

"It must always be served in a

ceramic pot, she said,

"And you must rinse the pot

first with hot water."

I had no idea.

I'm more of a coffee-drinker myself,

but on rare occasions when I have tea,

I heat up a cup of water

in the microwave and throw a teabag in.

When it looks about right I remove

the bag and put in one

packet of sweetener.

I'm never going to put milk

in my tea.

I just don't wanna.

Mr. Gadget drinks his tea that way

and he thinks I'm wrong.

But he thinks I'm wrong about a lot of things--

like for instance how I parallel park.

I don't wanna do that either,

so I don't.

But anyway, I made these napkins

for my tea-drinking friend

and I hope she likes them

and doesn't put them in a back closet to

save for a special occasion.

When she makes tea

it's always a special occasion,

and worthy of some handmade

teapot cloth napkins.

I'm hopeful she's received them by now.

Otherwise I may have spoiled the surprise.