Welcome to Tea Time Thinkings, a new blog that I have created to share my own reflections and whatever else may come to mind. I am unsure precisely where this going to lead and do not have a clear idea of what the journey is going to look like either. It seems that the purpose of these writings, ramblings and reflections will be determined at some point in the future… or perhaps never.

It seems best to start at the beginning - that is, particularly how this blog was born. This idea grew out of my original plan to start a book (one that would most likely remain unpublished) about myself, my past, my copings, reflections on a variety of issues and thoughts about the future (mine and otherwise). This was before the blog world had taken shape, before social networking sites and before people were sharing much personal information over the internet. So I started writing this ‘book’ in a continuous electronic document. After three years worth of work, and approximately 30 pages, my hard drive fried itself. Most of the other information on my hard drive was saved, but the one major hole was where my ‘book’ document had once been. Becoming disillusioned with the process, I stopped writing (for the most part) and have since written only periodic reflections. As I considered the future of my ‘book’, I had no choice but to consider, and ultimately turn to, a blog. So, after much deliberating, “Tea Time Thinkings” was born.

I thought it would be appropriate to also explain some of the meaning behind the title of this blog. “Tea time” has always held a place within my imagination due to its presence from the very beginning of my life. As far back as I can remember, my Oma would always commemorate ‘tea time’. It was usually at 3pm, or slightly after. Unlike English tea time, Dutch tea time was fairly simple… black tea in a glass mug (this particular mug with engraved tulips) and perhaps a speculaas cookie. It was a feature in her routine that seemed undaunted and continuous to me as a child, and has always stuck in my memory. Even to this day, I sometimes notice when the hour hits 3 and proudly proclaim to myself (or anyone unfortunate enough to be around) that its tea time. I don’t think my Oma recognizes tea time the way she used to anymore - but nonetheless it is the nostalgic memory that I hold more dearly to.

I revived ‘tea time’ as a marker in my life with one of the best friends I’ve ever had. This particular tea time had no set time, and was never part of our daily routine. ‘Crochet parties’ became equated with ‘tea time’ – although I can’t quite recall in what order. It became a time for us, my best friend and I, to discuss and reflect, to share ‘stories’ with each other. Sometimes we have even had ‘fancy tea parties’, where we have dressed up in ridiculously fancy clothes sipping our tea out of nice cups and eating cookies off of silver plates. These ‘tea parties’ which became ‘crochet parties’ have nearly stopped now. This friend has moved away recently and our parties will be confined to online discussions and periodic face to face get-togethers. Part of the void that has been created from the lack of these parties will hopefully be filled by this blog.

The word ‘thinkings’ (which is actually not a ‘word’ per se) appears in the title in order to distinguish this writing from my other writings which are primarily academic. Although this blog may contain academic-esque reflections at times, I wanted to distance what I write here from what normally consumes my brain. The use of a made-up word allows me to keep this distinction.

So I’m about to start a journey, not knowing what the journey is actually going to be, having no idea what any of the spots might bring me to or what the final destination will turn out as. Its like deciding to go on a trip, not knowing what type of transport, what will be seen or where you are going to end up… you just go. Such a journey is very unlike me normally - I'm someone who plans everything to death, down to the extreme detail. But going against my comfort zone, in direct opposition to what I would normally do, seems to be the only thing suitable… So lets go from here.