Photography, Collections | Sandi’s October Prompt
Three Cups of Tea in the Dark
October Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collections”
Teacups balancing until the kettle boils.
When Sandi Parsons introduced the “Collections” challenge, I thought of the teacups I’ve collected and set up this shot. As I balanced the teacups, it reminded me of a quote from the book, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
“The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die.” — Sparknotes
I’ve shared many cups of tea with people — some with strangers, some with friends, and countless cups with one stranger who became my friend, lover, and then my family — until death parts us.
My parents let me have my first sip of tea at a Chinese restaurant when I was a little girl. We had teatime together well into adulthood, and I wrote a story about sharing a cup with them at our kitchen table. The story is called Dusty High Heels — it captures a nostalgic moment that empowers family, feminity, and the power of the memories we…