Friday, August 24, 2012

Tying the Knot


  
     An older British gentleman, my husband's acquaintance, came to see us one evening several years ago. After dinner, when I asked him if he would like a cup of tea with dessert, he hesitated. I understand that Americans have a dreadful reputation in England for making tea so I described how I would prepare it for him. He acquiesced. Then I made a cup for myself. I used to be too impatient to wait for the tea to cool so that it wouldn’t burn my tongue—fancy that, an impatient American—and I put an ice cube in it. I thought it might amuse our guest to see my little idiosyncrasy, so I showed it to him.

     He was more than amused. He pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket, chuckling, and tied a knot in it to remind himself to write about the incident in his journal when he returned to his hotel. Apparently, he kept a record of all the oddball things Americans do to share with his cronies back home.

     I was absurdly pleased to have made the list.

4 comments:

  1. I like the habit of tying a knot in a handkerchief as a reminder.

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  2. What a lovely memory you shared with us ! I love your philosophical approach to life. You are so much like me in terms of my thoughts !
    hope to visit you again !
    have a happy day,

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  3. He has probably filled quite a few books with our oddities.Sweet story, all the better because it's true!

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  4. That's funny! I've been known to use the ice cube trick. Lately I've been putting enough cream in my tea to cool it off. And yes, that's a lot of cream! Delicious.

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