remembering the best chai tea I ever had

it was many years ago now.  It's funny how you can remember things like this.  But that chai tea, I think, at least then, was homemade there.  The blend of spices, including cardamom, was perfect.  

So many restaurants don't make it. 

I still remember the two diners in New York City. It's funny what stands out in one's memory. I remember at good stuff a man coming in and hoping for a job. Ridgeway diner I remember the server who always remembered me and was quiet and conscientious and always seem to be aware of what you need. I think I blogged about this years ago. I remember wondering what happened to the servers after covid destroyed their restaurant.  Ridgeway diner was so peaceful. 

The crown of India that was closed in the last. I don't know when actually, but it survived covid.  

We really liked this restaurant and are sad it is gone.  

It's funny how places stay in your memory.  I remember the fox and feather on Elgin Street in Ottawa. It's gone as well.  I remember outside of the bar area there was this long narrower room that was full of light.  It's where people would have brunch.  I remember it being a beautiful retro feel lamps that I think were round that felt really classy. 

This is a picture I found online of it, the row of windows was where I would have brunch, lots of light there.

The actual pub area I was not interested in, too dark is my memory.  This place was a blessing to me. 

I remember when I was very sick with prednisone that first time. We're looking at about 2010 then.  I had very little money.  Some will remember that difficult time in my life.  But I was so sick from the medicine that I remember going to Fox and feather for brunch.  Even though it was the Nativity fast back then those many years ago, I was so sick. I knew I needed serious protein and I was too sick to make it for myself.  So I would order an eggs benedict, fried eggs with ham and the Hollandaise sauce.  I remember how good it tasted, however the thing I remember most is that would help me feel like I wasn't shaking. Having no idea that 13 or 14 years later I would be on that medicine again, but with a much higher dose that would almost kill me.  Rather dramatic!

But here I am.  I lived.  I have survived great pain.  I am on the other side of it now.  

But the memory of it remains.  I read a novel called The Great Alone about this poor family whose husband/dad was in Vietnam for the war way back when.  And he was a POW and he never recovered his sanity really.  It was well written, at times the daughter who narrates the story would see her father for who he is through his illness and she would see his sadness and the love he had.  But in general, that was buried by his incredible illness, his deep paranoia, anger and abusive behavior.  It's quite the story to say the least.  

I'm very fortunate that I don't deal with things like that.  I can understand better how it would happen though.  If you're captured like that and go through that type of trauma, it would be easy to think you were going to go through it again. 

I'm so glad that it's not up to humans to sort all that out in Heaven.  

It's enough to keep trusting in God's mercy....