Page 4                                                                  The Megaphone                                                     December 2000

       
Dear Favorite Hugge, uuhhhh, Editor...
  Thought I would share a "Moment in Time" that happened to me just this past Friday. See if you think it is worth putting in the Megaphone.  

  The following happened to me just this past Friday and I would like to share it with all of you.

  The time was about five in the evening and I had decided though a bit weary I would drive over to Glendale which is a small town about fifteen miles from Phoenix west of town. A member of my staff at my office is a native American and had told me that the little town was holding a holiday celebration that evening and she had a stand there selling Indian Fry Bread which I dearly love. She asked if I would come see her and I could feel how much she wanted to have me see her own little business so I said that I would so off I went.

  This event is held at what is known to all as Murphy's Park, a lovely park with big old trees surrounding it - green grass and the park itself is in the middle of the square and outside the square there are many many antique shoppes and old historic homes that have been turned into antique stores. I would venture to guess at least 75+ shoppes. It was just a beautiful evening . . . the temperature being about 64 degrees and in all the trees...and I do mean all the trees . . . these wonderful tiny white Christmas lights turning the entire area into a fairyland.

  Lovely holiday music filled the air with its own magic and I preceded to find my friend and eat my fry bread and give my hugs and kisses to her. After that I walked around the park itself to view the wares of the vendors and wonder at it all. I was alone but with the joyous crowds of people around me alone may not be the correct word. I moved along to the tiny antique shops and entered in to about four of them thinking I might stop at Murphy's which is an old fashioned sweet shop with the best thick chocolate malts ever!! LOL The line was long so I decided to walk down the sidewalk to a few more stores and then I crossed the street thinking I was getting a bit tired and such maybe just go into a few more closer to my car. As I approached the second shop I just had to stand in wonder for the window was decorated all in Victorian era with the Christmas trees and their ornaments - candles - Victorian roses - lace - throw, etc. I had to go in and so in I went.

  I felt as if I had stepped through a "time warp" and had transcended into a never never land of make believe. Time seemed to stand still and as I was about to leave I noticed a woman standing towards the back of the shop. I had not noticed this area before and was drawn to it. I was smiled at by this lady and found to my delight it was a Tea Room. As I looked in I could see the antique tables and chairs with the tables adorned with elegant antique china and crystal with fresh flowers and linen lace table cloths. I knew I had to have some tea and scones for I was in need of nourishment from my browsing.

  There was but one other couple seated there, a man and his wife and they nodded as I entered. I was seated towards the front and as I was being brought my hot and delicious apricot tea and homemade scones with lemon curd and clotted cream to go with them -I noticed the hostess trying to get some of the people who were curious about this enchanted tea room to come in and try it. As they were saying to her, "I'll come another time," I found my mouth like Jumping Julie's - couldn't stay closed and said to them -"Oh please join me for the tea is so soothing and the scones so good and I am sure you need to rest a bit before going on." Well lo and behold they entered - were seated and I did this until about six or seven others joined in and the place now was filled with joyous chatter and feelings of warmth and love.

  The owner of the tea room came over to me and said "I don't know who you are or how you came to be here but you are the best Christmas gift I could have tonight. " I looked at her and smiled and as she came close gave her a hug and as I did a tinkling of a bell was heard signaling that someone has finished and was ready for their check. I said to her-"You know that when you hear a bell an angel gets their wings". She replied, "How wonderful that you should say that for the name of the tea room is called-Heavenly Tea Room-which I had not known. She and I than noticed that the patrons were getting up and hugging each other and than came over to me and did the same. We were all smiling and the feeling of being loved and the true meaning of Christmas was all around us. I told her how just so very wonderful the evening had been and to remember that a smile and a hug are gifts that can be given for free and their rewards are so many. I left that Heavenly Tea Room with misty eyes and a heart bursting with a magical feeling and walked out into the real world which now had taken on a special essence of its own and drove home feeling the
"Wind Beneath My Wings.

  Bless all of you this season and for all seasons to come. I love you all and may each of you feel the wind beneath your wings in your Moment in Time.

Sharon (Woods) Schwartz '55

Phoenix, AZ