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Holiday coffee with Elise By MARY JANE HOLT
Every now and then, you make a memory that you know will never leave you. Certainly, holiday memories frequently fall into that realm. On December 14, I once again attended the traditional Holiday Coffee that is hosted each year by Sara and Jane Estes of Gay, Ga. The decorating theme always varies, but the warm, holiday feeling does not. Surely it must remind all who attend this annual event of the importance of community, tradition and celebration. I know, as a relative newcomer (five years, now) to this area, I am delighted to be included. Over to the west of my home lies Greenville. Sallie Mabon lives there, on LaGrange Street, and she hosts another annual holiday coffee. Again, I am happy to be included. It was Sallie's event that inspired the making of a most unforgettable memory this year. It was held on December 21. December 20 is my son and daughter-in-law's wedding anniversary and they went to Charleston, S.C., for a long weekend. I was ecstatic to have my grandchildren for the three-day weekend so close to Christmas. The four-year-old was somewhat apprehensive about being away from Mommy that long, so, early in the week, she was told about a tea party she would be attending with Grandma on Saturday. Within hours after she arrived at my home on Friday, it was time to practice. Her idea, not mine. First, this four-year-old angel wanted to know if I had any books about tea parties. "A Memory of Christmas Tea" was on my bookshelf. She crawled up beside me on the sofa and we read. With the flipping of the last page the action began. She insisted that I get down my best china cups and tea pot. I told her they were not holiday themed and nervously suggested other pieces. Yes they are, Grandma, see the pink roses on them, you can use roses to decorate any time. We opened a bag of ginger snaps and a box of goldfish. I had parmesan cheese straws and brownies. A round of Brie was pulled from the fridge to accompany the gingersnaps. With all the right dishes in place and real napkins (she insisted), finally, we sat down to practice. I took a tiny bite of a cheese straw and started to make polite conversation. She gasped! "Grandma, you must not talk with food in your mouth." Suddenly, I knew polite conversation was not to be the order of the hour. It turns out that Elise and her friend, Jessalin, have hosted countless tea parties. She knew all the rules and I was about to learn them. I was shown how to cross my legs, how to place my napkin, how to hold my pinkie, how to flutter by eye lashes just so, as I politely sipped from my tea cup. She asked me if there was a chance we would be served coffee instead of tea at our event. Well, yes, I confessed, the invitation actually said Holiday Coffee, not Holiday Tea. Then you have to pretend you like the coffee. I know you don't, but you have to pretend because you have to be polite. For nearly one and one-half hours we practiced. We pretended to talk to lady after lady, commenting about her dress, or her holiday jewelry, or asking about her plans for Christmas. Finally she assured me that she thought I was ready. Her excitement continued to mount, and the night before us stretched long very long. Finally, morning came and she wanted her blue velvet dress with the blue velvet purse that matches and her black boots. Black goes with everything, she informed me. Before I got dressed she asked to see what I was going to wear to the Holiday Coffee. Thankfully it met her approval. Then not one word did she utter to a single stranger at the home of Sallie Mabon. Her favorite things: the snowman cookie, the stuffed kitty cat that was hidden in the branches of one of the Christmas trees, and a tiny three-inch rocking horse that she spotted laying on the floor. She picked it up and leaned it against the wall so it would not be lying flat on the floor. On the way I home I commented about what a wonderful experience we had. Grandma, what is an experience? Someday, when I am reasonably certain I can be forgiven, I will give her a copy of this column.
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