Although today's column is not political in nature, it does require a little explanation.

When we, the United States of America (which probably had no name at the time other than The Colonies), cut ties with our Mother Country in 1776, we retained some vestiges, our birthright, you might say. Other practices we tried to drop.

We didn't want a nation ruled by royalty and we didn't want a nation of people whose religious practices were dictated by a government. Our loyalty was not to royalty. But the Mother Country wanted to continue to collect taxes from this wayward child while allowing us no representation in the governing body. Revolt was inevitable.

It came in many forms, one of which was a 1773 incident in Boston Harbor where, simply put, ships filled with tea (to be unfairly taxed) were anchored. Angry, rebellious citizens (posing as warring Indians, no less! and there's a sermon there somewhere) dumped the tea into the waters. Historians and others later referred to the incident as the Boston Tea Party. Although tea was involved, and it was in Boston Harbor, it was no party.

Over the course of 200-plus years, it was discussed in history classes and referred to in a historical context. The obvious importance of the event and its catchy title kept it in textbooks and lectures. Meanwhile, for decades and centuries, folks drank tea (a vestige of our British birthright) and had parties all over America without one thought of the American Revolution. And rightly so.

But suddenly things have changed. The words "tea party" no longer denote a gathering of friends to have scones and tea, the British version of a tea party. Since I haven't been to one of the current "tea party" affairs, I really can't say for sure how it differs from the tea parties I've enjoyed in the past few years. I doubt that the girls wear frilly hats and beads, or that hot tea is served in china cups from fine teapots. I imagine there are no scones, no cloth napkins, no lacy tablecloths. The conversation most likely is not centered around the menu, or the latest wedding, or someone's graduation or birthday.

A few years ago, a "secret pal" from the ladies group at our church gave me a very special gift. It was a small silver-plated tea service. The 10-inch tray held a teapot, a cream pitcher, and a sugar bowl. I proudly displayed it on a tea cart, but never really had occasion to do anything else with it. Until... two grandchildren discovered it.

The little boy and girl, whose mother died when they were 4 and 6, delighted in having tea parties. We made do with the smallest cups in my cupboard. We served Kool-Aid from the teapot, and pigged out on Oreo cookies and peanut butter crackers. The favorite snack with our "tea" was Ritz crackers topped with a bit of cheese melted in the microwave. We took turns serving, and the time we spent together left precious memories. The children outgrew the game and its pleasure, and the years passed.

Now there are great-grandchildren. They discovered the tea set on their own, and their busy little minds and hands knew exactly what to do. One of the twins would go straight to the silver set when she came in the door. But there are three and sometimes four little girls now, (not including the one who will celebrate her first birthday soon) and when I mentioned to a friend my dilemma over the limitations of the set, she surprised me with a plastic Dollar Store version, all pale pink and lavender, with lots of pieces, unbreakable and easy to care for... but only two cups and saucers.

There are enough pieces to keep those little hands busy, but the idea of an unbreakable, fancy tea set with ample accessories led me to the gift shop at Tea Leaves & Thyme where Kim Jordy ordered the perfect set for me. It's metal, which was the first requirement. It comes in a picnic basket (picture the Teddy Bear's Picnic). The teapot is just the right size. There are four of everything, cups, saucers, plates, and flatware in a gingham pouch with each little knife, fork, and spoon in its own pocket. The gingham picnic cloth and napkins match the basket lining. It is party time, just in time for birthdays. One big joint party later this month will celebrate the twins' third birthday, their big sister's fourth birthday, and their Tifton cousin's third birthday. Guess we'll have to round up some teddy bears and baby dollies to come to the party.

This will be a real tea party. Those other gatherings by that title have absolutely nothing to do with tea or with parties. (In fact, they have nothing to do with taxation without representation. We all have representation.)

They need a new nickname that matches their cause.

Changes in our language make for frustration in more ways than defining a tea party. Remember when school paraprofessionals were called aides? Easy to see why they changed that. No school would want Aids.

And when I was growing up, gay meant happy and carefree, for everybody. Girls could have friends, and could call them girl friends without any hidden meaning. A fiancee was the girl some guy was planning to marry, soon, not someone who had shared an apartment or home with him for five or 10 years already.

Where's the King's English when you need it!

Juanita Hughes is the retired manager of the Woodstock Public Library.