Date: Fri 16-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Nunnawauk-tea

Full Text:

Tea at Nunnawauk Meadows - Sharing Memories Is Their Cup Of Tea

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

The happy chatter in Nunnawauk Meadows community room quieted Tuesday

afternoon as Mary Panciera began the story of the 100-year-old tea cup she had

brought to the tea party.

"When my mother was a young girl, she loved tea cups, and she bought the ones

she loved. She gave me all of hers, and I [eventually] gave them to my

daughter. I had to borrow this back for today," she laughed, exhibiting a

gilded cup with ornate legs.

"This tea cup is 61 years old," said another woman when it was her turn to

share the history of the cup she was drinking from. "When I got married, I

bought a whole set."

Stories spun around the room like threads into a tapestry, revealing bits of

personal history that resonated with humor, love, and loss. The tea, followed

by a make-over presentation, was obviously a hit with the 45 seniors who

attended. Nunnawauk Meadows and the Newtown Senior Center joined together to

present the tea, which is one of many events planned to celebrate Older

Americans Month.

"I think this is terrific," said Edna Pressmar, a longtime resident of Newtown

who moved to Nunnawauk Meadows last year."Bringing your own tea cup... is a

fascinating idea."

Mrs Pressmar's mug lets people know she's a "left-handed person in a

right-handed world."

Some tea cups serve as reminders of important people in the lives of the

seniors.

Trudy Pooley collects tea cups. The one she brought with her to the tea was

the last thing she ever bought with her husband. They were on a motor trip

through New York State and Toronto; on their way back, they stopped at the

border town of St Catherine's where she decided to get the cup for her

collection. "When I look at this, I have happy memories of the trip and happy

memories of my husband," she said.

"This is very special to me," said Ruth Burke, touching the handle of a

Precious Moments mug that has a sentiment under the heading, "Mom."

"My daughter-in-law gave it to me. She didn't have a mom and she wanted me to

be her mom. She gave it to me on Mother's Day about four years ago."

Sue Gilbert, who also brought a tea cup given to her by a daughter-in-law,

said, "This cup will stay with me forever."

Cups and saucers also commemorated travel. Mildred Bissinger drank from a blue

and white tea cup brought from Germany by her son, a pilot, to add to her

Bavarian tea cup collection.

"I got this when I was in China 15 years ago," said Dorothy Bartlett, holding

up an unusual and distinctly oriental cup. "We went to a farm where they grew

different tea plants. Many people think different teas come from different

plants, but different teas are different parts of the plant, or [harvested] at

different times of the year."

During that trip, she learned how to make tea, about different tea ceremonies,

and how tea was grown.

Some of the attendees also brought tea pots in which 14 different varieties of

tea were served. Fancy cookies and a trifle were the sweets offered to

complement the tea.

When Rose Lindmark was asked about her teacup, she readily volunteered, "I

collect husbands and that's how I inherit all my teacups."