{This piece is dedicated to my father-in-law, Arthur Kolb, who
passed from the world this week, and has blazed his own
trail of stars to the heavens, and beyond...)


A tea to blaze a trail of desire! : Gypsy Ambrosia, Flavored Tisane Blend ...

"Our most popular premium blend without caffeine!

gypsy, noun:  One inclined to a nomadic, unconventional way of life.

ambrosia, noun:  1. Greek & Roman Mythology. The food of the gods, thought to confer immortality. 
2. Something with an especially delicious flavor or fragrance.

This astonishing blend is certainly these things and more! This is a wildly eclectic, unconventional yet beautiful blend of rose, lemon grass, organic rooibos enveloped in rich luscious ripe peach flavors with a creamy vanilla boost, give this blend a mystery all of its own!" 

From SBS Teas




"We the great and small
Stand on a star
And blaze a trail of desire
Through the dark'ning dawn..."

Carly Simon, "Let The River Run"

{The above link will take you to a page
where you can hear this incredible song
and sing with it and blaze your own
trail of desire while you drink your tea.}



It is a blazing bright Saturday afternoon in October, one that sparkles like the stars in the dark of night, and I am filled with a thrilling exultation as I sip this tea and play Carly Simon's Let The River Run over and over and over again. It is like a mantra to me now. I play it in the morning when I need the lift to blaze my own trail of stars in whatever way I can. The tea simply bursts with flavor and the music sets one's spirits soaring with a staunch determination and a heart full of desire to do what one can to work as hard as possible, in our own way, to make the world a better place. There's never been a greater need. What are we waiting for?

My father-in-law, Arthur Kolb, (and even though my husband Kevin and I are now divorced, we are still family to one another and his dear father will always have been my father-in-law...) died on Wednesday after a long life. A courageous man who fought in WWII and worked hard all of his life, raised three sons and was a devout Catholic. He is standing on a star and blazing a trail even as I write this. I can see him at the height of his powers, in his Army uniform -- his service was something of great pride to him. I love you Art, wherever you are on your journey to the great beyond.

Simon writes in this powerful, triumphal song,

"It's asking for the taking.
Trembling, shaking.
Oh, my heart is aching."

And this week my heart has been aching, for the death of Art, for the pain the family is feeling, and I want to stand up and sing him to the stars. He is no longer in pain and suffering, he has transcended all that is known on this earth. With tears in my eyes and a heart that is aching I raise my cup of this ambroisal tea, and, too deeply moved to speak, and with tears running down my cheeks, I smile through my tears to feel the Earth move as another spirit is set free.

And death reminds us how very important Life is, and how we must not waste a single moment. Not a single opportunity to love, to create, to care, to offer compassion to every soul that we can reach out to, to remember that we are on this Earth journey to both learn lessons and make of this world a better place. I know my father-in-law did that. It will be my great quest for the rest of my days, come what may.

Let the river run. We will bend and shift and turn and follow the swift current of life, sometimes holding on by our fingernails, and at other times soaring even as we sit in a chair, hold a lover's hand, kiss a grandbaby as you hold him in your arms, watch your children with pride, help an elderly neighbor, and never forget why you are here, and make it count, and never forget it for a moment.


"Let the river run,
Let all the dreamers
Wake the nation.
Come, the New Jerusalem."

Carly Simon, "Let The River Run"


It's time now. Raise your cup of tea and sing with everything you've got in you. It's time to wake the nation. Come the New Jerusalem.


Maitri