Happy Father's Day Steepster Dads!
In spirit of Father’s Day + the first day of Summer (woo hoo!), thought it would be nice for our forum to share a story of our dads.
Here is mine:
Tea is deeply rooted in my family and has been a commodity that goes thousands of years back in Asian culture. The biggest tea drinker in my immediate family, was my Dad. My brother and I would opt for the ginger-ale, juice, and all the sweet stuff, but for Mom and Dad, it was tea. And it wasn’t the grocery store bagged tea either. Only loose tea from China Town! They’d sit around with friends and discuss the quality, bitterness and how exquisite some were over others! I couldn’t understand the fascination of tea from these adults!
On most days, tea was Dad’s first drink of the day. I recall how he would take me for Dim Sum on those busy Sundays. The line ups were long extending around the building sometimes. The crowd extra hungry from saving their appetites that morning and eager to hear their number called. I’ll never forget the excitement that came over me when a table became free! My dad was a hard working man of very little words. And I’d always wonder what it was he’d be thinking about when sipping on tea. Whatever it may have been, one thing I do know is that nothing (not even I) could have ever broken his peace when he was enjoying a cup of Chá.
Happy Father’s Day to all the tea loving Father’s here!
Well first of all, I’m not lucky enough to still have my precious, hilarious Daddy on this plane of existence. He has been gone for 14 years now and I still miss him all the time.
My Daddy was highly suggestible. We always dreaded when any of the Pink Panther movies would come on because Daddy would talk like Inspector Clouseau for DAYS.
One time he read the James Michener novel Centennial. One of the characters drank Lapsang Souchong tea. Daddy was not going to be happy until he found some. At that point in time, tea at our house meant Twinings. We finally tracked some down and we brewed it up.
It smelled God-awful and tasted worse. It tasted like road tar. I still hate smokey tea to this day. No way was Daddy going to admit it was SWILL. He used every one of those tea bags. But I never saw another box of it in the house.
I was very, very fortunate to have the Daddy I had.
I’m sure these moments keep you smiling. Very touching and thanks for sharing. I’m definitely the shy, quiet introvert type but built up a bit of courage to share hoping it will stir a few to do the same. As for the Twinnings tea, I believe mine would have done the same. :)
@Tea Leaf Co tell you a little secret. I STILL like a strong cup of Twinings Earl Grey with a little honey and a little milk when its wet and cold outside. Doesn’t happen all that often here, but it still means comfort to me.
And yes, I smile and laugh about Daddy all the time. Nice thread.
@MzPriss, your secret is safe. (lips sealed and throws key away). I bet each time I pass the Twinnings tea, I’ll think of this post. Keep smiling.
I’m late to the game but my Dad is actually a big tea drinker – in his own way. As I was growing up, I did not always live with my Dad but I did see him very often. He had a metal thermos of hot tea every morning before work, and off and on throughout the day/night (he is where I got my lack of reaction to caffeine. THANKS DAD! :D). When I was young, it was Red Rose steeped in the cup or maybe a pot for 10 + minutes and then doctored up with lots of sugar and milk. I loved drinking sips of his tea, and accordingly altered my tea a lot when I started drinking it on my own. Now he does the same thing but the preferred brand is Presidents Choice Orange Pekoe. He drinks my unaltered tea if I make it for him, but he doesn’t enjoy it. He likes it bagged, dark, and strong with milk and sugar. And sometimes, so do I.
@Uniquity Red Rose has been a household staple since forever and the metal thermos – how I remember those! Thanks for a lovely post.
I’m late to this post too, but I thought I’d add my thoughts. My father (gone for nigh on 13 years and I still hear his voice in my head) was a hard-core coffee drinker, so oddly enough, this post is about me and my kids. I have been drinking tea seriously for several years and my kids tease me about it all the time. My daughter points out that I act like a drug dealer with my scale and my habit of offering tea to everyone as soon as they walk into the house (“the first cup is free”). But at the same time, they encourage my studies toward being a tea sommelier, proudly show their friends my many drawers and shelves of tea, join enthusiastically in discussions about my (still fantasy) tea shop, and cheer me on every time I get a new tea tasting gig. They ask me to make them certain teas to suit certain moods (“I need some comfort tea.” “I could use something strong this morning.”).
As a father, I often wonder how good a job I’m doing raising my kids. It’s hard to know what kind of influence I’ve had, what values or habits I’ve taught, and what they will take with them as they venture into the world. It’s comforting to know that they will take a cup of tea.
Never too late Hillel. Happy Father’s Day to you. You are their biggest influence. You are all they know and look up to. I believe you are showing them to pursue their dreams and do what they love. You are a living example.
Sadly several days ago right after Father’s Day, our family has been in grief. My father in law was killed. He was not only an amazing person but also an amazing father. I celebrate Father’s like yourself who live and dedicate their lives to providing the best they can. Keep on keepin on.
So sorry for your loss. I hope your family can take comfort in memories of your FIL and how he positively affected those around him. When my father passed away, someone said to me, “It doesn’t get easier as time goes on, but you get used to it.” My sibs and I still have occasional “dad moments” when we see or hear something that he would have particularly appreciated (or when we hear a notably groan-inducing pun). Those moments are both sad and comforting, since we still feel him with us.
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