“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.” ~ Chaim Potok

Over a fine cup of Darjeeling the other day, I thought about how often I heard the phrase, “I’ll put the kettle on,” when I lived in England. A surprise visit, a day’s disappointment,

trouble brewing, an invitation to chat — tea always made everything better. One had to wait patiently for the water to boil, and if you were lucky, part of your reward was that friendly whistle with a sudden burst of steam.

I miss this bit of antiquity, since these days many prefer to use their microwaves or electric kettles for almost instant hot water. Gone are those few extra minutes of anticipation, of slowing down, that cosmic link to hearths of yore. And those old kettles, especially the copper ones, had so much personality!

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