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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