Serenity doesn’t come easily to me; I certainly didn’t expect to find it when I did the seemingly impossible and got lost on Main Street in Ottawa. Yogi Berra once said that if you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up somewhere else. He was right.

After my third whiz across the Marais des Cygnes River, I stopped to ask for directions. There in front of me, on the corner of First and Main streets, was a brand new tea room. I stumbled in to be greeted by Destiny.

“Welcome to the Serenity Tea Room,” she beamed without a touch of irony.

I pinched myself. Had I been transported to one of those rather posh, elegant English tea rooms? I thought I’d taken leave of my senses.

“I’d like to sit for a minute,” I murmured and tried to ease myself gracefully into one of the stylish Queen Anne-type wing chairs in front of the natural gas fireplace.

Soothing, gentle melodies, played by Susan Gammon from Centropolis on the nearby baby grand piano, mingled with the rhythm of a water fountain. My frazzled spirit was seduced and soothed. I surrendered in spite of myself.

The place was exquisitely decorated. The muted tan “leather look” walls were a perfect background for fabulous mirrors, candlesticks and framed pictures. Fresh flowers adorned every table. Restored display cabinets and other unique accessories created an air of Victorian opulence. The same care had been taken to furnish and add a touch of class to the restrooms.

Several couples conversed quietly. Not a laptop in sight. Circular drop-leaf tables could be adjusted to seat from two to eight people comfortably.

“I chose the round tables because I wanted to encourage conversation and avoid the feeling of being overcrowded,” owner Gayla Parisot explained.

She and her family loved having tea parties at home and church, and knew that many people went searching for tea rooms where they could have great tea and food, as well as uninterrupted conversations. Encouraged by her husband, Bob, and children Destiny, Jessica and Levi, she researched tea businesses for a year before taking the final step to acquire the premises that formerly housed the Potter’s Wheel Coffeehouse.

Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. High tea, reminiscent of the Ritz Hotel in London, is available by appointment from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

The teas are all high-quality loose leaf. The finely scripted menu lists Irish breakfast, Earl Grey, oolongs, ginger peach, and a wide variety of others.

Within minutes of placing my order, Destiny brought a tray with a china teapot, matching cup, saucer, sugar lump bowl, milk jug, silver tea-strainer and a freshly made chicken croissant. Everything was perfect. Chef Connie Neilson, of Sweet Parfaits in Lyndon, provides and prepares the recipes. She visited each table with samples from her first batch of mouth-watering, wafer-thin lemon shortcake cookies that will be served with afternoon tea.

Lawrence native Shelly (Thornbrugh) Mason and her 10-year-old daughter Rylee ordered oolong tea and chocolate truffles.

“It’s a girl-only day,” Mason said wistfully. “Time together is precious.”

Rylee’s 5-year-old brother died two years ago. He had spina bifida; she has the same condition.

“You never get over something like that,” Mason said. “Many people expect you to, but you don’t.”

We talked about the pain of losing one child and the challenges of holding hope for the other.

“We try to appreciate life,” she emphasized.

Rylee, who loves to sing and idolizes Kelly Clarkson, faces further surgery as she grows.

“My spine has to be untethered,” she explained matter-of-factly.

“Aren’t you frightened?”

“I’m just afraid of anesthetic, that’s all,” she replied.

“She’s so brave,” her mother interjected. “She never complains.”

Rylee has courage and wisdom beyond her years. Meeting her and her mother was a gift. They put life in perspective for me.

Serenity Tea Room is well-named. It gave me an unexpected opportunity to drink more deeply of life, reconnect with my own spirit and those of others. It’s well worth the drive to Ottawa.

Tea: 5

Ambience: 5

Service: 5