My first thought for a goodbye blog sounded more like an obituary so that was a No! My second thought was to write a poem with words that rhyme with kitchen. I am going to write one but not use it for this purpose and it does make me smile thinking about it!
This blog is not about designing a kitchen or what’s trending, it is saying thank you to my colleagues and friends.
When I grew up most all the important conversations were held at the kitchen table. In our home and my grandparents’ homes there were no formal dining rooms. The kitchen table was right smack in the center of the room. As my mother or grandmothers prepared the meal the other visiting females sat around the kitchen table, or bar stools to chat or help in some way. Chopping, kneading, stirring; helping in whatever ways they could to quicken the process to get to the fine feast that was ahead. The kitchen was the hub even after the meal. The men would retire to the easy chairs and the women cleaned up. How sexist does that sound ? But that’s what happened! Once everything was in its proper place the ladies would sit around in the kitchen solving the world’s problems. In those kitchens my mother and grandmothers shared life stories and answered questions from the younger gals. The sacred code of secrecy and all the words spoken were not to go beyond the kitchen walls. The kitchen was a safe place and offered comfort. When you left the kitchen, your belly wasn’t the only thing full. You were filled with the love and the knowledge that was shared. In my adult years, I always tried to make the younger generation feel their worth in the kitchen
. I wanted them to feel that they mattered and one day all the chatter would make sense.
Why have I shared about kitchens of my past? Those kitchens provided me with love and helped me prepare for the next stages in my life. For me, Ideal has provided me with a kitchen for my soul. It was God’s plan for me to walk in the showroom and feel the sense of family on that first visit. My work family has been my “kitchen people”. We gather to share stories, offer hope, pray together, laugh hysterically, play Uno and not care who wins. (That’s a fib, we all try to keep Koy from winning!)
As I prepare to retire, I think of the wisdom and life stories shared in our sacred conference room. My colleagues have provided me with so much knowledge, but more importantly they gave me a sense of belonging — to something so very special. The feelings I had when I left the kitchens of my past are basically the same as what I will feel on April 30th. I have been well fed (gained 20 pounds in 3 years) and I am full of hope and love to take into the next stage of my life. I feel prepared and ready to take on this new adventure with my best friend, Michael. To the younger peeps at our conference table, the chatter you have endured in the conference room will one day make perfect sense. Shall we observe one last tidbit in comparing my past kitchens to Ideal….. Notice the women are still cleaning up all the messes!!!! I love y’all!
