High Tea...

It's a big city, first world thing, perhaps...  

To have "High Tea" at some fancy schmancy restaurant 

at least once in your life...  

To behave as the English do, 

although the set-up is probably 

light years away from what is

a proper English tea...  

Help me, Melissa G!

Regardless, we ladies like to feel 

we are breathing rarified air 

lifting our pinkies skyward, sipping Chamomile 

from a bone china cup...  

Never mind an hour earlier 

we were scrubbing bathrooms...  

Doesn't matter...  

To feel slightly aristocratic,

despite the little tear in our worn Granny panties,

is what every girl wishes for...  

It's an extension of the toddler tea parties, 

with teddy bears and baby dolls in attendance...  

High tea ain't cheap, either...  

I am not really in a position to toss 

that much dough into a pot of Earl Grey, 

but I set a little pin money aside 

so I could take my girl out...  

In reality, as a mostly sensible, relatively thrifty person, 

I confess high tea is a massive waste of cash, 

but it's about the memories, right? 

 

Kate learned of this impending adventure 

earlier in the week and she counted the days 

and then the hours, until today...  

She pondered her fashion choices 

and settled upon a glistening white, paillette-covered,

 marabou trimmed, shift of fantasy...  

It was her first wearing of this Bob Mackie-esque frock...  

I found it over three years ago, deeply discounted, 

at a pop-up shop... 

Kate is finally big enough to fit 

in that white, feathery confection...  

She rocked it...

In a last minute decision, 

she outfitted Gwen in a similar dress 

and brought her along to the party... 

 

 A girl needs an entourage, you know...

Kate had a million questions about the hotel, 

the building, the rooms, the food, the location, 

until I prayed we would finally wade through 

the tied-up Saturday traffic

and she could see everything for herself...  

She will remember the massive mirrors 

on the walls and ceiling, 

the tapestry couch in the elevator, 

the opulent bathrooms 

and the waitresses' gold jackets...  

She may remember the chocolate mint tea, 

the tiny pots of lemon curd, 

clotted cream and strawberry preserves... 

Perhaps her memory will include the harpist's beautiful music 

or the star shaped fountain we sat next to... 

Maybe Kate will recall straining her own leaves, 

poured from her personal teapot 

and dropping multiple sugar cubes 

into her delicate tea cup....  

Hopefully she will remember 

our tea afternoon at all...  

For me, I will remember her wide eyes, 

taking in the restaurant, 

her glee at being in a big city hotel

 and her joy spending special time 

with her loving mama...  

Oh, and I recognized, with new caution, 

her keen appreciation 

 of the finer things... 

Oh good Lord...

The champagne taste...

The beer budget...

That girl better get herself a really good job...  

 

Gulp...

Here is a list of great places to enjoy High Tea in Chicago...