Virginia's Finest Sampler

I have a sister who is about 6 years older than myself, and who, after graduating high school, married a navy man.

After a short stint in Key West, my sister and new brother-in-law were stationed at the Norfolk NAS in Virginia.

On the occasion of my 14th birthday, my sister sent me a wonderful package. It was a real wooden box labeled "Virginia's Finest Sampler." The box contained several vacuum sealed ham steaks, a pound of dry cured bacon, a jar of Red Clover honey, a cloth bag of corn bread mix, another of buttermilk biscuit mix, and a small tin of specially blended tea.

That evening, I skittered into the kitchen to cook up my birthday meal. I cooked up the corn bread and ham, and opened a can of turnip greens to go with it, but when I went to brew up the tea, the little tin was no where to be found.

Yelling to my parents from the other room, "Has anyone seen my tea?"

"Your What?" came the reply.

"MY TEA!   I'VE LOST MY VIRGINIA TEA!"

I immediately heard an audible "thud" geminating from the living room.

Upon investigation, I found my parents immersed in uproarious laughter. My mother on her knees, pounding her fist into the carpet, while my father, who until this time was prostrate on the Laz-E-Boy now seemed to be attempting to kiss his own knees.

After composing themselves, the tea was located and dinner was served.

I still have that little tin, which held my precious "Virginia tea," and it has become quite the topic of conversation.

[ Author Unknown -- from 'Buffalos Chips' (buffalos-g-jokes.yahoogroups.com) ]