Last July one lovely warm morning my life changed. The table was set: Jams, yogurts, croissants, brioche, fresh fruit, and with a teapot in hand I asked my guests, "What would you prefer coffee or tea from Comptoir Anglais des Thés?"
But before I go into the story that changed my life, I must fill you in about my tea obsession with Mariage Freres . The shop alone is enchanting enough to make anyone become a tea consumer, let alone the charming black containers with pale yellow labelling and the massive varieties of teas they offer. Fortunate was I when Mariage Freres (located in Paris in the Marais) teas were sold in Marseille: Black Orchard, Wedding Imperial, Trois Noix, Marco Polo, Lapsang Souchong… were some of my favorites, my kitchen drawer had several varieties at all times, especially since coffee never tasted good to me. Mariage Freres' tea was my preferred hot drink. Until the day I was introduced to Comptoir Anglais des Thés (in Aix en Provence) Gentlemen tea with that first sip I was under its spell. Besotted with Gentlemen a mixture of almond and caramel.
As I held up the teapot and offered tea that famous morning, Sonia (Natacha's youngest sister) replied, "Neither for me as I am allergic to caffeine." Curiously, I asked her what happened to her when she had caffeine. Her response was, "Migraines." Dumbfounded I uttered, "I have migraines too." Sonia said, "No, I have serious migraines, not just headaches, you know everyone says they have migraines, when really they just have headaches." I shook my head in agreement then said, "Trust me I have serious migraines and have had since I was a teenager. I probably have 10 to 15 migraines a month. And if it weren't for prescribed migraine medication I would be, as I use to be, in bed or throwing up or both for days. Basically in pain most of the time."
Then I looked at that loved teapot, that I was still holding in midair, with new eyes.
From that moment on I haven't had a sip of tea, nor a sip or bite of chocolate either. And poof within that week until this present day I haven't had a migraine.
Caffeine caused my migraines.
Not stress, or lack of sleep, or hormones, or gluten, or sugar, nor wine.
French Husband boldly suggested while we were in Sicily and he was drinking cup after cup of the most beautifully hot chocolate, that I taste some,
"Why not have a cup and see if you get a migraine."
I replied,
"Why do I not fall on a knife and see if it hurts."
To this day I cannot believe that I never thought that maybe caffeine was my thorn. But how happy I am the Natacha and Sonia came to visit me that lovely summer morning.
Do you know how wonderful it feels to wake up and not have a migraine? I was afraid to mention it before, in case I jinxed it somehow.
What is something that has changed your life?
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