I am writing this with full recognition and gratitude for my creature comforts and blessings.....and in full awareness of most of the world's occupants who are much less fortunate than I.

For most of my life, I have been acutely aware of the joy of an appropriate bowl, glass or cup of steaming hot beverage. At a very young age, I watched my family enjoy a cup of hot coffee...and occasionally was given a very small amount of coffee in my glass of milk, as a special treat. It was just enough to give it a very pale shade of tan, and encouraged me to drink my dreaded glass of milk. Then, as I grew up, the joy of a good and hot cuppa coffee frequently accompanied by a Danish pastry was a special treat. Hot tea was something I usually drank with honey and lemon, when I was a child...but I did learn to enjoy steaming cups of lovely tea, particularly the smoky-flavored Lapsing Soochow. I was acutely aware of the lovely tradition that the Russian Jews that I knew, who served a "Glazela Tae" It was said that it was served in a glass because, in Russia, there were great distances to go in freezing weather....and when someone came in out of the cold, they were served that, heart and body-warming beverage, in a glass...which, when held in their hands, it would warm them up. It was accompanied by a square cube of sugar that was held between the teeth...so that the tea became sweetened as it was drunk. Once, on a very cold winter's day, after returning from the out-of-doors, I tried drinking my tea in a glass, and it really worked. Once I had my twins, drinking a cup of hot coffee, became an impossible treat. I would pour the wonderful smoking liquid into my cup and many hours later, was able to get back to a very cold beverage. I also remember the joy of my Mother's hot chicken soup. Delicious, fragrant and filled with healthy goodies. It was particularly wonderful if she didn't "skim" it too well, and it still had the unbelievably good chicken fat floating on top. It made "getting sick", worthwhile.

Now that I am old...and my mouth has been used and abused for 75 3/4 years, I am no longer able to drink hot foods or steaming liquids. (no doubt it is due to drinking everything when very hot...in addition, since living in New Mexico for the past 11 years, to enjoying the New Mexican Chili peppers prepared beautifully, in EVERYTHING). Now, I voluntarily wait until the coffee is quite cool. The cool tea I drink is Green Tea and what if I get sick???? Does that mean I'll have to have

cool chicken soup??? Yucko!