During the summer, a few of my co-workers and I were discussing going to the Calico Cat Tea House for lunch and a tea leaf reading. Something fun to do as a group, and something new for the few of us who had never experienced it before.  One of the girls made the phone call and booked it for October 20th.

Originally built in 1910, this character home has an exquisite charm all of its own; you’ll even find the original stained glass windows and fireplace. You are invited by the proprietor, Heather Frank, to come and enjoy warm hospitality, exquisite homemade food and even have your tea leaves read by one of our professional tea leaf readers! And, if you’re really lucky, you might even get a glimpse of our friendly ghost!

We all arrived slightly staggered. We were seated in a quaint little room, filled with artwork, little nick knacks, the ceiling trim filled with tea pots, cups, and oddities.

We each picked our tea cups from around the table. swapping this for that, “Oh I want that one.” “This one’s pretty.” The waitress poured our tea and told us to make sure we left the leaves in the cup. She took our lunch order and left the room.

I had a little bit of tea left at the bottom of my cup and I was trying to figure out how to drink the rest of it without drinking the leaves. So I  cleverly sipped from around the cup.

Our reader walked in the room, took the chair at the head of the table next to me, looked at me and asked to do mine first. I shook my head yes and proceeded to turn my cup upside down and turn it on the saucer three times clockwise. Every time I heard a “scrape” sound, I cringed a little as I was afraid to break the delicate cup. I then placed my hand on top and made my wish.

I can’t remember all of what she said to me, it is all pretty surreal. AND she got me bang on. Hindsight, we should have recorded the sessions or took notes for each other.

Here’s what I recall:

I’m not a mistake. I was meant to be here. I am really good at recalling things, especially when people think I’m not paying attention. She said it started when I was four, when something changed, something happened.

She said that I don’t like fake people and that I know how to deal with them. I have a big shield, and I know how to go around confrontation. I am going the right path, to keep doing what I’m doing.

She said I’m a writer, but I may need to explain things for others as my story can be a bit all over the place, but I know where I’m going.

She said I learn at my own pace. I do things my way. I need to take away the clock and I’ll get things done at my own accord. I get easily distracted if I’m always thinking of the deadline.

She said I like darkness and I’m fascinated by obscure things, but I can see the lightness within the dark. I’m to focus on the positive and not dwell on the negative.

She said I have an angel looking over my shoulder, name starts with “D,” and I have yet to figure it out yet. But I’m glad to hear I have an angel.

She asked if I had a question. I couldn’t speak, just shook my head no, saying, “Nooo,” still in shock, my emotional energy bursting through my body.

Damn hindsight! I really wish I could recall all of what she said. I was just in awe and shock, as she was telling me these things. My co-worker sitting across and to my right, she said I had a stoic look on my face during some of it. I didn’t say much. I mostly did a lot of nodding. I could feel the tears at the back of my head but they didn’t surface.

One of the other girls had a good cry. For good reason, she’s been through some tough stuff in the last few years.

Our reader went from me, on her right to the girl on her left and around. Each of us in awe of how accurate our readings were. We had a good chuckle at some of the things she was saying about each of us that were true that we knew all too well. The last girl arrived for lunch during the readings, and asked us how we liked it.

She put in her lunch order. Shortly after, all of our lunches arrived. We ate, and marveled in conversation about what we just experienced. We discussed a bit of work, being co-workers of course.

The bill came. We all lined up to pay each of our portion, and said our goodbyes. The discussion of possibly doing a tarot reading in the new year lingered.

When it comes to something like this, you have to keep an open mind and a clear head. You should make no expectations, just be there for a good time. There are a lot of people who believe that tea readings and the like are a bunch of rubbish and waste of time. Well then this isn’t for you. But please leave it for those of us who wish to partake!

It was an outing with some co-workers, a lunch and something fun, new and exciting to some of us.

They are a small tea house and they aren’t cheap, but they are reasonably priced. For a day with some people I care about, it was worth it. That’s what really matters.