Retirement Community: High Tea in Lakeland Florida

by Irwin Lengel
(Lakeland, FL)

For those of you unfamiliar with the term “High Tea”, which is chiefly British, a high tea is a fairly substantial meal that is served in the late afternoon or early evening.

On Tuesday December 07, 2011, the second annual high tea was had for approximately eighty ladies of our community. The affair was hosted by two of our finest ladies who both also happen to be fantastic cooks as well.

One of the ladies attended to the preparation of various types of finger food type sandwiches such as sliced tomato, cucumber, egg salad, and a star shaped sandwich made on raisin bread consisting of cream cheese, pineapple, and carrots along with numerous other tasty morsels.

Her partner in crime, so to speak, attended to desserts the likes of which made one think they were prepared in a French bakery. The desserts consisted of such tasty delights as cheesecake, lemon squares, miniature éclairs, chocolate covered potato chips as well as chocolate covered strawberries.

The ladies arrived dressed in costumes of the era and each lady was announced as Lady Diane, Princess Stephanie and so forth and subsequently escorted to her table by a gallant gentleman decked out in a tuxedo to complete the festivities. Once seated, each lady was served individually by the gentlemen in serving and no ladies’ tea cup was allowed to become empty during the balance of the afternoon.

An assortment of tea was provided with raspberry tea and Earl Grey being the favorites. As a memento of the occasion, each lady was presented with a miniature crystal red rose. It was evident by the laughing and chatter of the ladies, that they were having the time of their lives just sitting and talking with friends and neighbors while partaking of the goodies set before them.


In addition, I might add that they were also enjoying the fact that all they had to do was raise their tea cup or motion to one of the gentlemen in waiting that they needed more tea. The fact that they were “being served” versus having to be “the server” made the afternoon one to remember, not to mention the fact, that they would be hoping deep down inside that this event would continue to be held annually.

The number in attendance doubled over last year and it soon became evident to those of us responsible for putting the event together and also watching how much fun they were having that the ladies will be expecting this to continue as an annual event.

This is just another way members of our community come together to enjoy an afternoon in these, our golden retirement years. What about you, what type events have you planned for your friends and neighbors?

Wendy: WOW... I want to move there! Sounds like a great time!

I will always remember a Christmas Tea I attended years ago..... thanks for the great story, Irwin!!