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“The place I like best in this world is the kitchen.  No matter where it is, no matter what kind, if it’s a kitchen, if it’s a place where they make food, it’s fine with me.  Ideally it should be well broken in.  Lots of tea towels, dry and immaculate.  White tile catching the light (ting! ting!).” Banana Yoshimoto in her 1988 novel, Kitchen.

Today I am off to the pre-transplant clinic support group for those in the lung program.  It’s quite an adventure, requiring two tanks of oxygen and other paraphernalia and it takes some time to get there.  Best take a book, eh?  We were at the library yesterday and I found this one. The lines quoted above are the opening lines. Wow!   I couldn’t agree more.  Some of my best times – simple but sweet times – have been spent in kitchens.

I love to write in the kitchen. I often wonder how many women over time have practiced multiple creative arts in that most basic room . . . the heart of the home … the hearth of the home.  At least one fictional writer … Jessica Fletcher of Murder She Wrote … plied her craft in the kitchen.  It seems so natural to stew dinner and spin a story at the same time.

For those who are interested, here’s what lung transplant is about … and my own wonderful physician is featured here.

© 2015, words and photograph, Jamie Dedes, All rights reserved

9 Comments

  1. One feels like one’s body is a kitchen– cooking away, sometimes stewing something. Familiar and yet capable of surprises — not always pleasant– there are burners and knives there. Thanks for this and take care of yourself. Best thoughts your way. Thanks always. K.

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  2. In the desert, my laptop is set up on the island in the kitchen–looking out over the beautiful Santa Rosa mountains.

    When I worked at UCSF Home Care, I spent one month helping the discharge team on the transplant unit. You are in good hands and in my prayers, dear friend. Being a transplant survivor myself (as you know, kidney) you will be surprised at the difference in how you feel post surgery. What a wonderful gift. Love to you.

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  3. I often cook and paint at the same time. Sort of multi tasking. Each grounds me in the other. Thus….I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I send you blessings and I wish you success with your health issues. A lung transplant will keep you in the body longer and you are needed. Much love coming your way, Gretchen

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  6. Here in Steve’s half of a 1905 duplex, I am back to a kitchen barely bigger than that of my just-married days (another duplex). But this one has high ceilings, weird gadgets and antiques (but no place to sit down). It feels much more creative, much less scared. May our life adventure move in that direction as we mature. I wish you a creative and non-frightening adventure towards lung transplant!

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  9. I not only share your love of kitchens (how many times have we been at parties where everyone just congregated in the kitchen?), but in my current home my computer and printer are in the kitchen, so I literally spend most of my time there. Luckily I LOVE my kitchen.

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Thank you!