Kitchen




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" January 15, 2004 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart." You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. All new subscribers will receive a free downloadable copy of the e-cookbook, “Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover.” To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ Theresa grew up in a wonderful neighborhood. More than that, she grew up in a home full of love and laughter. ------------------------------------------------------------ A Kitchen Full of Memories By Theresa Luanne Cooper ------------------------------------------------------------ The neighborhood I am from was very special. Much different from the ones I have experienced in my adult life. I am not sure if neighborhoods have changed or if I just have an adult perspective now. My brother and I grew up in south Jackson. Our street was considered a middle-income neighborhood. Most of the fathers there worked very hard. Not many executives in the group. All but a few mothers stayed at home and kept house. My mother stayed at home. She never was very good at the housekeeping. Mother sure knew how to make a home. I remember going inside one of the more “well kept” houses in the neighborhood. The mother at this house did not let just any one come inside. If you rang the doorbell to see if her daughter could play, you might be told that she could only have one visitor in the house at the time and she was already playing with someone. The day I was allowed to visit with her daughter, I was let into the front door. Everything in the house was in immaculate condition and decorated. All the furniture matched. The colors in the house blended. There were even place mats and cloth napkins on the table waiting for the next meal. I remember they were red. There were wooden bands around the napkins. Later in life, I would discover that the wooden bands were napkin rings. I was so impressed. We did not have anything so fancy as place mats at our table. I thought to my self, when I have my own house, I will have placemats also. I was so involved with the elaborate decorations that I did not notice this table was missing the things I truly treasure, family and friends. While our table did not have placemats decorating each spot at the table, we generally had family or friends in every chair at the table. Sometimes, our kitchen was so full of people, you would need to ask someone move to open the refrigerator. This is where we gathered each morning for breakfast. This is where we visited with friends. This is where we held our family rebellions. When we went to bed each night you could generally find my mother at the table reading a novel. My mother would let everyone in the house. It did not matter how many were children. Everyone was welcome. Grownups came to drink coffee and have conversation. Children came because my mother allowed them to talk freely at the table. She appeared to listen and all children want to be listened to. Mother always had a pot of coffee going. My mother and stepfather had their own personal favorite coffee cups. They used the same ones repeatedly. The cups were washed with the dinner dishes and then left out for the next day of visiting. My stepfather had worn black work boots. Even though he passed away in the early 80¹s, the worn spots are still on the linoleum in front of his assigned kitchen table chair. The Formica finish is a bit worn on the table and the ceiling had to be repainted because of the nicotine stains. His pest control business was also conducted from this spot. Every one knew all conversations stopped when the business phone rang. That ring could possible mean money. We never had much money but we knew how to laugh and have fun. My family today gathers around the kitchen bar. I am starting to see signs of wear on the Formica and the linoleum. My kitchen also has the problem of being so crowded that friends are asked to move to allow access to the refrigerator. While, I have the coffee pot always ready, I try to keep an assortment of soft drinks and bottled water available. They seem to be more in demand than coffee now. Children were always welcome. My son is 19 now and his friends have stopped coming to spend the weekend. I truly miss their visits and satire. When the phone rings, everyone knows it may be work. I excuse myself from the kitchen and take the call behind closed doors in the study. The kitchen conversation does not stop. Today, I have placemats and matching napkins. I bring them out when I want to make a meal a little nicer in my home. I will never be as good as my mother will at making guests feel welcome. She had a talent in making people feel at home. If, I had to make a choice between decorating and friends, I choose friends. I am sure that my childhood neighbor¹s daughter does not share fond memories with her mother about the placemats. I on the other hand, I have a kitchen table full of memories. Theresa Luanne Cooper hacooper @ netdoor.com You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- My name is Theresa Luanne Cooper. I currently live in Southwest Hinds county. I find pleasure writing stories for my family to read. I am interested in writing as a second career. I exchanged wedding vows with my husband Hank on October 5, 1979. We have one son who is 19 years old. We are also the proud owners of Joey Dog and Ariel Dog. -------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ken Prieur Ryan Jonathan P. Wells Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner We get a lot of credit card offers through the mail. Normally we tear them up without opening them. Sometimes one comes in an envelope that you feel you must open to make sure of the contents. One came in this week and it had stickers in it. You get to choose what type of card you want; do you want ladybugs, a flag, or wildlife. When David opened it, I thought he would automatically rip it up and toss it. He took the ladybug sticker and stuck in the middle of my forehead. Then he handed me the rest of the stickers thinking I would throw them away for him. Not me, I chased him through the house plastering him with stickers. He was laughing so hard tears were rolling down his cheeks. I never realized how much fun junk mail could be. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2004 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors. ---------------------------------------------------------------