Tea with a dash of coincidence

My friend Lynn invited me to go with her for lunch on Saturday to The Clipper Merchant Tea House in Limerick.

Lynn had been there for the first time a few weeks ago, wanted to go back, and knew I'd enjoy it, too.

So on Saturday we drove to Limerick, about 15 minutes from here.

I was infatuated with the tea house immediately. It was obvious someone has put much love into furnishing and decorating the place, not to mention into serving delicious teas and luncheons.

Each tea room has a theme; we chose the China Room, which is decorated with many souvenirs from China. The waitress explained that the tea house owners had adopted their daughter from China several years ago, and these are the items they brought home from their journey to get their daughter.

The Custom House Room is the largest dining area with a table to seat several guests.

I wanted to check out The Scottish Thistle Room more caefully, but the tables were full with guests, so I didn't dare disturb them.

Lynn and I enjoyed our lunch and oohed and ahhed over the interesting details of the various rooms.

When I got home, I decided to check to see if The Clipper Merchant has a website. It does, as you can see if you click the link in my first paragraph.

I read about the house, the rooms, the teas, etc., and gradually began putting two and two together.

The tea house owner, Heather, used to live in my hometown when her father was a minister there. This was back when I was 8 or so and Heather was only 4.

My family attended the First Congregational Church, with Reverend Smith as our pastor. I, along with my sister, used to babysit the Smith children.

Then the Smiths moved to Chatham, Massachusetts, and we essentially lost touch with them.

About seven or eight years ago, while I was still teaching, one of my freshman boys handed me a note after class one day. It was from Heather. She said she was now living in Limerick, Maine, and would love to hear from me.

I don't remember why I didn't succeed in contacting her. I know I dialed her number several evenings in a row, without luck. I probably gave up. So I'd more or less forgotten that Heather lived in Limerick. As of this past Saturday, I didn't know that she still lives there and is the owner, with her husband, of the lovely Clipper Merchant Tea House. If I'd realized this while being at the tea house, I'd have asked to speak with Heather. I've since e-mailed her and received a speedy reply. She said she feels "an alignment of the planets or something" has put us back into contact with one another.

I'd always wondered how Heather knew where I was teaching, back when my student brought me that note from her. I think the mystery has been solved: Heather mentioned in her e-mail that she took her mother to my hometown, to visit my mother, about ten years ago. My mother never mentioned this visit to me, but I suspect that during the visit, she told Heather where I was teaching.

What totally astounds me, though, is that Heather mentioned she'll be 60 in October. Sixty? SIXTY??

(The elaborate bird house in my header photo sits in Heather's garden.)