The Magic of Tea and the Discovery of Progress

I find surprising progress as a discovery after years of investment in time and thought. I like the word discover because it more accurately reflects my experience in the advance of my skills and aesthetic. When I was younger I worked hard to master skills in mimicking the pots I respected. Since then I have made a lot of pottery... and I have looked at a lot of pottery. I now don't mimick other pots. Instead I have a general shape in mind and a standard (unwritten and un-articulated) based on the cumulative aesthetic of "good pots" I've absorbed over the years. This week I received a real compliment that couldn't have been planned or elicited. Fukamora Yosi, an engineering manager from our facility in Japan was visiting and I worked all afternoon on Friday with him. late in the day I offered him some tea and made him a cup of green tea in one of my Yunomis. A curious expression came over his face as he asked: "Japanese?" . He become more curious when I told him it was my own. He was pleased and enjoyed his tea as if it was in his own home. It opened up our relationship as we learned about each others family, home, hobbies and interests. The power of Tea.