
I know this may be controversial…but I don’t like coffee.
But I do love coffee shops. Especially those bistro tables…and the iced tea.
I grew up drinking iced tea. SWEET iced tea.
My dad loved the way I made it, so it became my job to keep a fresh pitcher ready at all times. Over the years, I probably made him a thousand gallons. Same simple ingredients: water, tea bags, and sugar. I never thought it was anything special, but he swore mine was the best. And as a kid, it felt good—really good—to know I was doing at least something right.
Like most of us, I didn’t feel like I got enough pats on the back. Or "thank yous." Or recognition for the small but meaningful ways I showed up and tried.
That’s why I’m so grateful—so very grateful—to wake up most mornings to comments, emails, and messages of kindness, encouragement, and support from fans, followers, and friends. Some days, it’s a quick comment or a thoughtful emoji. Other days, like this morning, it’s a message that moves me to tears. The good kind. The healing kind.
So if you've ever wanted to make someone’s day, I encourage you to write those “Thank You!” and “You Too?” notes. And not (just lol) to me.
Who inspires YOU? Who spins YOUR world right round, baby, right round?
With so much uncertainty in the world, we could all use more compassion and kindness. So consider leaving a like, making a comment, sending a note, or sharing a simple “Thank You!” and/or “I Love What You Do, Boo!” can literally make a gray day turn into a Technicolor day dream.
Personally and professionally, my cups of tea runneth over.
Maybe I’ll invest in a new set of cups soon….
Cheers, my dears, nears, and/or queers!
Clint 🌈✌️
P.S. I have recently started drinking HOT tea, usually while reading comments, emails, and messages. The warmth intensifies the warm and fuzzies I feel from the kind folks who share their points-of-view, stories, and words of wisdom.
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ON THIS DAY = APRIL 12
BIRTHDAYS
1883 = Imogen Cunningham = American photographer and educator
1912 = Hound Dog Taylor = American singer-songwriter
1916 = Beverly Cleary = American author
1919 = Billy Vaughn = American musician and bandleader
1923 = Ann Miller = American actor, singer, and dancer
1927 = Alvin Sargent = American screenwriter
1930 = Manuel Neri = American sculptor and painter
1932 = Tiny Tim = American musician and musical archivist
1940 = Herbie Hancock = American pianist, composer, and bandleader
1946 = Ed O'Neill = American actor and comedian
1947 = David Letterman = American comedian and talk show host
1947 = Tom Clancy = American historian and author
1949 = Scott Turow = American lawyer and author
1950 = David Cassidy = American singer-songwriter
1956 = Andy Garcia = Cuban-American actor, director, and producer
1957 = Vince Gill = American singer-songwriter
1961 = Magda Szubanski = Australian actor, comedian, and writer 🌈
1961 = Willi Ninja = American dancer, choreographer, and voguer 🌈
1964 = Amy Ray = American singer-songwriter 🌈
1970 = Retta = American comedian and actor
1971 = Shannen Doherty = American actor, director, and producer
1974 = Slava Mogutin = New York-based Russian artist and author 🌈
1979 = Claire Danes = American actor
1987 = Brendon Urie = American singer-songwriter
1992 = The Vivienne = Welsh drag queen 🌈
1994 = Saoirse Ronan = American-born Irish actor
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1606 = The Union Flag is adopted as the flag of English and Scottish ships.
1953 = Sixty-three men are arrested in Waco, TX, at a “homosexual convention.” Tommy Gene Brown, the Waco Bride, led a mock wedding when police raided the two-room private resident in South Waco.
1954 = Bill Haley & His Comets record "Rock Around the Clock" in NYC.
1955 = The polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, is declared safe and effective.
1985 = Desperately Seeking Susan is released in theaters.
1987 = 21 Jump Street premieres on Fox.
1996 = James And The Giant Peach is released in theaters.
1992 = The Euro Disney Resort opens with Euro Disneyland; the resort and its park's name are subsequently changed to Disneyland Resort Paris.
2013 = Autumn Sandeen, a U.S. veteran and transgender woman, receives a letter from a Navy official stating, “Per your request the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) has been updated to show your gender as female effective April 12th, 2013.” Allyson Robinson of Outserve declared, “To our knowledge, this is the first time that the Department of Defense has recognized and affirmed a change of gender for anyone affiliated, in a uniformed capacity-in this case a military retiree.”
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Tom Clancy
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Tom Clancy
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What a gift, to have that special distinction of World's Best Sweet Tea Maker from your dad - it really is the little things. Thanks for the shout out, C 🩷
As a British man I ought to like tea (hot strong fermented tea with milk and little sugar). I decided as a teen to prefer coffee (then only served as the brown drink made with powder or granules. It only tastes of coffee in cakes). This adolscent decision offended by Chinese spirit guide (my brother in a life 300 years ago - long story and irrelvant here). He was appeased when I drank green unfermented tea. I drink green teas and blended coffee bean coffee. The bitter black free refill coffee in the US with little or no body isn't for me, either. I drink both of these hot or iced, no milk, no sugar.
I loved your essay. I believe that we all can be kind, caring, loving and appreciative of one another and to affirm them in that way.