My sister and I spent entire afternoons at the kitchen table creating paint-by-number masterpieces, dipping the brush into little pots of paint and applying color between the lines.
While Momma made lunch, we cut paper dolls from the Sears catalog.
Balls of peanut butter cookie dough were pressed into sugary crisscross patterns with a fork. We waited impatiently at the table for the cookies to bake.
 |
From the kitchen table, we learned life lessons. Daddy grumbled about the weather. Friends joined Momma for a cup of Folgers. After supper, accidental stains and food crumbs were erased with soapy water and a dishrag. Each day began fresh at the kitchen table.
Seasons were marked as the center fruit basket was replaced with an evergreen candle Saturday after Thanksgiving. After a deep fresh snow, we made bowls of snow cream with lots of vanilla and sugar.
Momma cut dress patterns, worked crossword puzzles, called out spelling words. We made vacation plans and counted down to the lake over breakfast bowls of grits.
Each afternoon, Momma sorted through bills, Columbia House junk mail, a letter from my Australian penpal delivered half a world away straight to our small, sturdy table.
I studied for the ACT test, trying to block the sound of the television in the den, plotting my escape to college. Later, I couldn’t wait for that first home-cooked meal after fall semester.
History lives.
Future plans are laid.
 |
| Taylor & Kelsey |
A kitchen table definitely sees more life than most of the space in a house!
Yes! Thanks for reading:)
So beautiful and touching, Talya. So true that so much of life’s happenings revolve around the kitchen table. And I thought it was just a junk collector. You’ve made me see it with new eyes and I thank you for those wonderful memories. I remember so many of those things, too. Lovely post. Now I’m inspired to think of something.
Thank you Cate! Yes, I hope you will link up…
What lovely memories you’ve shared, Talya. I love this prompt, because it can be interpreted in so many ways!
Thank you Corinne. I came up with this post topic at my writer group.
So many memories are created at the kitchen table. What a fun prompt! I look forward to coming up with something for this.
Thanks Kathy! Can’t wait to read your story:)
Most of our life revolves round this table collecting a lot to proceed further…Appreciate your way of looking to life through this medium…I wish I could come up with something amazing on this prompt….thanks
Thank you! I hope you will link up.
Great topic that helped bring back old memories. Looks like you had a lot of good times at the kitchen table.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/07/writers-post-kitchen-table.html
Thanks Joyce. I loved your story – we have alot in common:))
Great prompt…there were so many ways to tackle it that it was hard to choose. I love how something so ordinary can evoke such extraordinary memories… Just as you’ve conveyed in your post!
Thank you! Your story was haunting and sad. Thanks for linking up!
I suspect everybody knows, but it ain’t the table, it’s the people gathered around it! Good one!
Love it!
The Kitchen table, a seemingly unimportant piece of furniture, but so much a part of our lives. Thanks for this wonderful prompt 🙂
Thank you!
Yes, the kitchen table brings back so many memories. Some happy. Some sad. Enjoyed this so much.