what do you do???

Over the Christmas holidays, Bill and I went to visit his grandparents...wonderfully warm, caring, friendly people who happen to be from Holland. Even though they've lived here in Canada for over 50 years, they still speak with a thick accent...an accent that gets thicker the more excited they become. I'm getting better at understanding most of what they say...but there are times when they both try to tell the same story...at the same time...and become quite excited. This, of course, makes it nearly impossible to comprehend anything! I've perfected the "smile and nod"...and the "fake laugh" to go with their bouts of laughter...it's gotten me through quite nicely!

There's one thing that I don't look forward to in our visits. TEA. That's right, tea! You see, I hate tea...I don't just dislike it, I hate it. It's bitter...it makes me gag. I would so suck on reality television that would make you eat or drink disgusting stuff...I can't even make myself drink tea, for pete's sake!

You see, during many of our visits grandma puts the kettle on and brings out the dreaded teapot. Bill will drink tea...as a social thing...and seemingly only at his grandparents place. I still remember the first time I saw him drink tea...(I'll tell you about that later...) Last year when grandma brought out the tea, I tried to drink it...I really did...but I couldn't. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful husband who drank it for me without anyone noticing. This year I wasn't so lucky. Grandma mentioned getting tea (I thought, oh crap...not again!), but then she asked us if we wanted some ( I thought, hurray!)...I, of course, said, "no thank-you" and Bill asked for some cream and sugar to with the tea. No problem...right?...wrong! Grandma forgot...I got tea (gag) and Bill got tea, sans cream and sugar. This year, I think Bill had just as hard of a time drinking his tea as I did...although he finished his, and I could only take a few sips of mine before I knew I couldn't suffer anymore.

You may be thinking, 'what's the big deal'? I don't really know...I guess it's just that his grandparents are in their mid-to-late 80's and we don't want to be rude. I'm sure that they wouldn't be offended at all...in fact, they'd probably be very understanding and get a little chuckle out of the whole situation. So, what do you do??? Suffer in silence or risk the elders thinking we're rude? I'm sure we'll continue to suffer in silence...and next year, remind grandma about the cream and sugar...that way Bill can drink my tea too! ;)




Ok, the first time I saw Bill drink tea...
We were at his grannie's farm (a different grandmother) for a visit when she went to get the teapot. (I'm seeing a trend amongst the older ladies here...) She asked if anyone wanted tea...Bill said 'yes'...I was shocked and was left with a confused look on my face. Bill drink tea? What's up with that? You see, we had been dating for over a year at this time (I think we were even engaged by this point), and I had never seen him drink tea...not once! I didn't even know that he liked tea. I later bought some tea for our place...he never drinks it at home...never! I was a bit confused again. As it turns out, Bill only drinks tea socially...and only with his grandparents...I still don't think he really likes it...but every once in a while when I'm making myself a hot chocolate, I call to Bill to see if he wants a tea...I always get the same answer...and I'm left to giggle to myself...