… ‘have you got a teaspoon?’ He asked, so they passed one on to him, while the others waited. He stirred his tea, pressed out the teabag and passed the teaspoon on, few seconds later, he asked for the teaspoon again, it was passed on to him with some queer looks, he passed it on, and a few seconds asked yet again for the teaspoon, this time he did not return the teaspoon, but left it in his mug, he then takes a sip of his tea, stir, takes another sip, stir and on and on, at this point without any consultation or conversation everyone concluded that he was not altogether with it. Moreover he deprived everyone else of getting their tea stirred as there was just one teaspoon on site!
On most sites or those cheap conferences, we don’t even get a teaspoon, all we get is those white flimsy stirrers, they never do a good job of pressing out the teabag, never strong enough for the job, some break in the process and you always feel slightly short changed, as you didn’t get the best out of the teabag. But all the same, the flimsy stirrer is better than nothing, nothing means getting your finger into the hot tea to stir and squeeze out the teabag, aside from the fact that it sounds and looks crude, it carries its own particular risk.
What is so special about the teaspoon? What magic does it bring? It does not add anything physical to the tea, it is not milk, sugar, sweetner, honey etc it is not even the mug, teapot, teacup that spend some quality time holding things together. The teaspoon’s job is very brief, few seconds at the most, stir the tea or coffee, press out the teabag, job done and lie low! Yet tea without the stirring, the drink lacks something, that special something , a certain je na sais quoi, as they say in french. Yet it must be brief, you just don’t leave the teaspoon in.
Some people in our lives are just like the teaspoon, their role is brief, they are to stir things up for, press out what needs pressing out and move on to the next person or just lie low. This is the magic they bring, but we miss it when we want them to tarry as in linger and sit in the tea, the magic dissappears, the presence becomes a nuisance and irritation for all. We have to all understand, it is a guest appearance, they are not here for the whole segment or series and that is why it is magical when they show up. Sometimes it is hard for all concerned, the tea, mug, tea drinker and even the teaspoon, the encounter is sweet, the clinking of the spoon against the side of the teacup, the swirling and twirling of the tea, the scooping of the froth etc, but all of these must be kept brief to capture and sustain the magic. Magicians understand that speed and quick exit is the name of the game, that is the only way to keep the illusion.
Some people are like teaspoon, only available for the brief encounter, so enjoy it while it last. Stir your tea, press out the bag, and allow the teaspoon to continue it’s journey.
Sit down, tilt, cross your legs, rest it on the foot stool, sip your tea slowly, enjoy, lift is easy, and don’t reach for that teaspoon again, don’t!
And if a time ever comes, when things come to the crutch, the nitty gritty, and we have to choose between the mug and the teaspoon, please never go for the teaspoon. The mug will serve lots of purposes. The teaspoon is of little use outside the mug.
Beautiful Ivory 