KimC --

Had a parcel notice in my mailbox last night (it was pouring rain, so the postwoman [bless her!!] didn't leave my package). I was at the post office when it opened this morning.

Had to just sit there an laugh to see a Nashville return address. I'd been trying all this time to figure out from where on Earth my pressie would travel -- and it came from a neighboring state 200 miles west. **LOL** (For those not familiar, the "different states" thing is a Tennessee joke. KimC and Nashville are in Middle Tennessee, while I'm in East Tennessee. The areas are really as different landwise and culturally, as being in separate states. There is a third Tennessee "state," of course -- that being the western third.

Geez!! You hit it right on the nose. Of course I have no self control and opened the package immediately, in the post office parking lot. The tea is amazing. A box of individual tea bags, each in its own little "matchbox." Exotic names; even one called Always Mary. A third of the bags contain tea with caffeine, a third with low caffeine and a third with no caffeine. However, I am intrigued by one called Ground Control. The little sticker says, "Nasty to the help again? Might have slipped you the caffeine. This decaf is so good, you'll never know." The tea is distributed by Steep, and their website is a kick too, by the way.

But for all my struggle to decide which to sample first, in my new large and lovely mug, I gave in to the one labeled Up Chai Down, with "honey hemp Chai" tea. It's brewing right now and I can't wait.

But even better than the tea and mug was the third surprise: a cassette tape done by Kim and her husband, and called "Stonewall Of The West."

Lovely stuff! I've listened to it twice through and am on the third time.

Kim wrote all the songs on the B side. I'd have a really hard time saying which is my favorite. Because of the content, I'm leaning toward the title song, but, lordy, I love them all.

Thank you so very much, Santa, the gifts are great.

May you and Paul have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Love ya,
Mary