Tea With a Stranger | |
Date: | Sun, 09 Mar 2003 18:11:58 -0600 |
I met an elderly woman on my flight from Melbourne to Tasmania a few weeks
ago. I would guess her age was around 85 years old. But it often hard for me to tell after the age of 70 because your looks start to reflect the amount of sun damage, smoke damage, alcohol damage and just general diet that you have endured. This lady was delightful. She was wearing a little blue dress with a little matching hat, shoes and handbag. She had several gray hairs growing out of her chin and her lipstick was a bit askew. Other than that, she was very “put together”. She had been in Melbourne to go to as friend’s 95th birthday party. on a short hop Qantas Link service and those planes do not have a first class. We were in the told the businessman behind us that she was “quick going down the stairs”…she refused to get old. I found that inspirational. During the flight we chatted about her garden and the upcoming Launceston Cup horse race coming up in Tasmania. She invited me to her house for tea later that week. I thought, why not? She told me her name was “Lewis”. Sure enough, on a rainy, dreary Friday she phoned my flat and said she would collect me in an hour. She still drove; although not really that well. Come to find out, she li (built in the 1800’s) just on the edge of Hobart in an area called Sandy Bay. There were old fashioned fireplaces in every room with beautiful wood carved mantles. ![]() There were priceless antiques from England and all kinds of china and collectibles displayed. The parlor, where we had tea, had a beautiful chandelier. We sipped on Earl Grey tea and sampled some of her home made biscuits and cookies. We chatted about her children and life in the port town of Hobart, Tasmania. She seemed to have a busy agenda for someone 85 years old. But I could also see how loneliness would engulf her in that giant home with only the sounds of the 18th century clock collection to keep her company. She took me for a stroll in her acre garden. She has lived there for over 50 years and has planted everything in that garden. It was obviously still her favourite pastime as she picked fresh fruit for me to eat off the trees and the snipped a few of the most beautiful scented roses I have ever smelled. The garden won Australia’s Better Homes & Gardens “Garden of the Year” in 1996. ![]() It was a nice diversion after spending several days alone exploring the city on my own. You see, the older woman AND the younger woman were both a bit lonely. ***2016 Note: I did not have my camera with me that day. However, I did a bit of research and found the home listing and grabbed a few photos from it. I was thrilled to find it after all these years. She has passed away, but her sweet memory lives on with me. Even though we were only together for a brief moment in time.http://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/trophy-homes/27340-hobart-historical-trophy-home-landmarks-for-sale.html |
Love how a stranger and a kind gesture can make your day. Or how our kind gesture can make someone else’s day.