Meg and I are having a wonderful e-mail conversation about tea drinking...sharing a virtual mug (cuppa is not applicable here, I'm opposed to any quantity of tea that can be consumed in a gulp-and-a-half or less).

Also discussing the stigma placed on American male tea drinkers when in the company of the "real men drink strong black coffee" crowd. This may not be as prevalent as in the past--pre-Starbucks and the coffee revolution. I cannot imagine my father sitting around with his his fellow Drill Instructors at Camp Lejune during the Korean War drinking a non-fat latte. Both he and my mother were coffee drinkers but the kettle never wanted for a tea bag in our house.

I was born a tea drinker, it's in my blood, I consider it a birthright. I'll die one if I have my way. To paraphrase a group who believes strongly in their rights as well, "you can have my tea mug when you pry it from my cold, dead hands"