She's Been Everywhere!

The traveling teapot was granted a passport during its month at the Amherst Rose. I contained pages and spaces for each hostess to share about its journey.

As you probably know by now, the traveling teapot has been a project of an online group called Afternoon Tea Across America. It is a place where nearly 400 who enjoy afternoon tea can share ideas, menus, recipes, and other topics related to tea and its service. The traveling teapot project provided group members with an opportunity to share their love of "all things tea" with others. In a way, the traveling teapot has been the ATAA ambassador of tea. It has opened doors to conversation and friendship. Many cups of tea have been shared from it's hospitable spout.

The ATAA traveling teapot could rightly sing the song "I've Been Everywhere". Hank Snow made this song a number one hit in Country Music back in 1962. A plethora of other famous singers made this song a part of their musical repertoire as the years went by. Artists like Johnny Cash, Lynn Anderson, and the Statler Brothers used the lilting melody and hypnotic lyrics to entertain faithful fans. Originally a truck driving song, it expresses the singer's enchantment with the open road.

I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road,
When along came a semi with a high an' canvas-covered load.
"If you're goin' to Winnemucca, Mack, with me you can ride."
And so I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside.
He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand.
And I said, "Listen, I've traveled every road in this here land!"

The song was written by Geoff Mack in 1959 and was made popular in the original Australian version by singer Lucky Starr. Later it was adapted by the composer for American audiences. Since then a version for New Zealand has been written, along with one specific to the United Kingdom.

The words we are most familiar with in the American version take the listener to places like Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocopilla, Barranquilla, and Padilla. Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana, Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana, Monterey, Ferriday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa, Glen Rock, Black rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa, Tennessee, Hennessey, Chicopee Spirit Lake, Grand Lake, Devil's Lake, Crater Lake. Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika, Shefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica, Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport, Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond Du Lac, Davenport, Idaho, Jellicoe, Argentina, Diamontina, Pasadena, Catalina. Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravellburg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, El Dorado, Larrimore, Atmore, Haverstraw Chattanika, Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika, Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City.

Can you catch the rhythm of the song?

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Across the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere.

It's possible that the little plum teapot's version could sound like this ~

I was packin' my teapot along in my pretty pink mini-van,
When along came an airliner with USPS delivery.
"If you're goin' to Wapakonetta, Priscilla, with me you can fly."
And so I handed o'er the teapot and she settled down inside.
He asked her if she'd seen the skies with so much tea-dust. And she said, "Listen, I've flown all over in this here land!"

Then she said:

"I've been everywhere, tea ladies. I've been everywhere. I've been to Chester, Niagara Falls, Strongsville, Medina, Lake Couchiching,Washington, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Tonky, Barbourville, Corbin, Stanford, Renfro Valley, Nashville, Bowling Green, St. Charles, Palm Beach, San Francisco, Wapakonetta, Sylvania, Findlay, Waterloo, Des Moines, New Virginia, Frankfort, East Moline, Ann Arbor, Adrian, Defiance, Bryan, Archbold, Pettisville, Altadena, Issy, Burbank, Nevada City, El Cerrito, Markham, Temecula, Berea, Broadview Heights, Portland, Laguna Hills, St. Louis, Massillon, Napoleon, Pensacola."

And it is true! The traveling teapot seems to have been everywhere!

It has criss-crossed throughout America, visiting 15 different hosts in 7 different states and three countries. Many of these hosts took the teapot with them on travel adventures to other nearby states. Altogether more than 32,000 miles were logged by the little plum teapot.

Each host has been a wonderful care-taker of our teapot. Over the miles it has poured cups and cups of tea. An ambassador of tea. For sure! She's been everywhere!