Do you mind if we move to the kitchen? I need to do some cooking for my lunches for next week...Obviously, I was thrilled. She cooked and I prepped, we chatted and swapped tips as we continued our conversation from the restaurant. She only had a little clean-up at the end and hand-washed what few dishes there were. All in all, that part of the day took less than an hour.
It reminded me of an occasion when I visited some friends for a shapenote singing in their home. I arrived a little early with chicken in hand and helped out in the kitchen. There was a simple choreography to the rise and fall of the cooking with the conversation. It felt peaceful and right.
Looking back, I guess what really took me aback was how easily and simply cooking can be incorporated into life. It doesn't take long to make it a part of your routine. Having friends who echo and mirror that same simple consideration only help to reinforce good habits. Kitchens have historically been the center of the home, a place for easy conversation, a place to connect and reconnect with your dear ones. And the simple intimacy of preparing a dish together is a powerful way to say "I love you."
Credits
Image: Kuchenmaistrey aWikimedia Commons image in the Public Domain (Augsburg 1505)
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