Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/3525/-1/140/
|
Tennis, Tea And Tradition
|
Anyone who might have read last week’s contribution to The Anguillian from Dame Bernice Lake would have gleaned that she is a tennis buff and an unabashed fan of tennis star and court sensation, Zina Garrison, as well as an avid supporter of the Anguilla Tennis Academy.
|
|
Zina Garrison (6th from left) with Dame Bernice Lake (extreme right) and Ms. Lake’s house guests
|
Upon hearing of Ms. Garrison’s visit to Anguilla for the tennis exhibition held at the CuisinArt Resort & Spa on Friday, last, Dame Bernice phoned Mr. Mitchell Lake early in the week to extend an invitation for Ms. Garrison to tea at her home in the Forrest. On Thursday afternoon, in the finest Caribbean style, Dame Bernice hosted a traditional, high tea in honour of Ms. Garrison, who was accompanied by her friend, Denise Hampton. From New Jersey, Ms. Hampton is the proprietor of the famous restaurant, Niecey’s Southern Exposure, on Maple Avenue in West Orange.
Joined by several close friends and family, mutual admiration and fellowship soon flourished in spirited conversation. When an inspired hostess of such remark lays out her best china, teapots, cups, saucers, and silver and prepares special delicacies for her invited guests, only the greatest of kindness and friendship follow. In this instance, Misses Garrison and Hampton were embraced by the group, with anticipation of future contact and goodwill. Both repeatedly expressed their enchantment with Anguilla, noting both the beauty of the island and the hospitality and genuine character of her people.
The discourse at this gathering also encompassed the global need to commit great energy and resources to our young people and the importance of keeping family-oriented traditions alive and integral to the society. Dame Bernice and Ms. Garrison both waxed poetic about career and life and lessons learned from both good times and bad. In addition to such exquisite and memorable hospitality for her guests at high tea, no one there shall forget how Dame Bernice demonstrated the so-called, “Zina Garrison waggle” performed as she awaits a tennis serve from the far court.