You're Never Too Old for a Tea Party

Inside: As an introvert, one of my goals this year has been saying “yes” to more social events–a tea party being the latest. Which proves you’re never too old for a tea party.

Two women posing with a storybook and a tea kettle with cuttings from the greenhouse. — Left to right: Author Stephanie Paasch and our Host Alana Fravell at the Sparkle Tea Party.

Recently I was invited to a tea party. Mom asked if I’d like to go to one of our favorite haunts, Sugar Grove Growers, for one of their events, and I happily agreed. As the date approached, she mentioned that she’d found out the Sparkle Tea Party was actually geared toward children, a fact which she shrugged off. She’d been wanting to go to more of the doings at her place of employment and didn’t mind. After all, she reasoned, I was a writer and it would be interesting to meet a local author.

The day of the tea party, as we headed up the stairs to a quaint makeshift tea room, I felt a little self-conscious without bringing a seemingly essential element to the gathering–a little girl. No worries, though. The author, Stephanie Paasch, welcomed us, introduced herself, and told us a little about her presentation. She explained how she’d gone from someone who wasn’t particularly fond of tea to a passionate tea drinker and promised we’d learn some interesting facts about tea.

Soon other guests arrived, and we found our place cards and sat down to a gorgeous table setting complete with small, delicate tea cups and a teapot centerpiece with cuttings that morning from the greenhouse. (Mom knows all about that, as this is her thirty-fourth year of working in the greenhouses there.) Alana Fravell, co-owner with her husband Bob Theobald and his father Bill, explained a little bit of the history of Sugar Grove Growers–how her inlaws, Bill and Ellyn Theobald, had started out with just a cart selling produce and plants and now their thriving business was turning 40 this year. I was touched when she spoke of Ellyn (who passed away several years ago) and how Alana wanted to continue Ellyn’s legacy. Ellyn had been the heart of Sugar Grove Growers, adding so much with her attention to detail and creativity, and it was so good to see Alana bringing those same talents to the store.

Next Stephanie read from her children’s book Sparklepants: Terrific Tea Party. And, you know what? I did learn a lot about tea! The story, although written for children, was informative and fun, and I like how she didn’t speak down to her audience. She introduced “big words” in such a way that kids could learn yet still remain engaged with the story. I certainly enjoyed it. So will the little girl in your life.

Meanwhile, as Stephanie read, Alana served us various teas and a plate of goodies–a ham and cheese finger sandwich as well as the ever-popular peanut butter and jelly version, along with apple slices, and two different kinds of cookies. (Definitely cleaned my plate. Well, you know, to set a good example.)

Stephanie answered questions about tea, signed copies of her book, and told us about other adventures she had planned for The Adventures of Sparklepants series. All too soon, the party was over.

Afterward we shopped downstairs–more goodies!–and chatted with folks. Such is life in a small town. What a way to spend an afternoon.

And there we were, Mom, a seventy-four-year-old, and me, fifty-three, proving that you’re never too old for a tea party!