On Surviving Kitchens

 

For the last two weeks in this enchanting land of Red I have been stuck in the kitchen staring at white. Two endless weeks of doing dishes, setting tables, dreaming about recipes (not literally), trying to prepare fruits and veggies in a way little people will eat them (lesson learned: stick with the basics), and wishing to be outside with the aforementioned little peoples. And now l, 300 dishwasher loads later (probably more like 400 actually), I’m (pretty much) done. As I write this (May 16) I have one more day left (for now). While setting those endless tables (upwards of 20, 3 times a day) and doing those endless dishes, I didn’t always feel like I’d survive. The few breaks I got from these everyday tasks I had to cook for over 20 people. What lovely breaks. But I did survive it. My friend (John Green in Paper Towns <no I don’t highly recommend it>) who stated such obvious truths in such eloquent ways says, “I’m not saying that everything is survivable l, just that everything except the last thing is.” Thanks, John.
So guys I guess this is over a week late. Sorry. The kid life of this place has totally engulfed me. Pushing swings, playing McDonalds, dealing out bandaids, holding hurting kids, driving school children,.... little A and her whispered “wuv you” after her prayer, sensitive I praying specifically for me when I put her room to bed, baby K with her ready smile and big eyes that are so very curious (especially at night), the J girls who have no conscience and can throw the most amazing fits (they come by it honestly, I’m told). It’s a busy life. A crazy life. I love it.