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the kitchen table

July 25, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner 19 Comments

My sister and I spent entire afternoons at the kitchen table creating paint-by-number masterpieces, dipping the brush into little pots of paint and applying color between the lines. 

While Momma made lunch, we cut paper dolls from the Sears catalog. 

Balls of peanut butter cookie dough were pressed into sugary crisscross patterns with a fork. We waited impatiently at the table for the cookies to bake. 

From the kitchen table, we learned life lessons. Daddy grumbled about the weather. Friends joined Momma for a cup of Folgers. After supper, accidental stains and food crumbs were erased with soapy water and a dishrag. Each day began fresh at the kitchen table. 

Seasons were marked as the center fruit basket was replaced with an evergreen candle Saturday after Thanksgiving. After a deep fresh snow, we made bowls of snow cream with lots of vanilla and sugar. 

Momma cut dress patterns, worked crossword puzzles, called out spelling words. We made vacation plans and counted down to the lake over breakfast bowls of grits. 

Each afternoon, Momma sorted through bills, Columbia House junk mail, a letter from my Australian penpal delivered half a world away straight to our small, sturdy table. 

I studied for the ACT test, trying to block the sound of the television in the den, plotting my escape to college. Later, I couldn’t wait for that first home-cooked meal after fall semester. 

Shocked and numbed, we gathered around the table to select songs for Daddy’s funeral. 

History lives. 

Future plans are laid. 

All from the ordinary kitchen table.
everything happens at the kitchen table
Taylor & Kelsey
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

 

Filed Under: Family, Life, Memories Tagged With: family memories, home, kitchen table

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Comments

  1. Me says

    July 25, 2013 at 4:23 am

    A kitchen table definitely sees more life than most of the space in a house!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 25, 2013 at 5:17 am

      Yes! Thanks for reading:)

      Reply
  2. Writercat59 says

    July 25, 2013 at 4:25 am

    So beautiful and touching, Talya. So true that so much of life’s happenings revolve around the kitchen table. And I thought it was just a junk collector. You’ve made me see it with new eyes and I thank you for those wonderful memories. I remember so many of those things, too. Lovely post. Now I’m inspired to think of something.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 25, 2013 at 5:18 am

      Thank you Cate! Yes, I hope you will link up…

      Reply
  3. Corinne Rodrigues says

    July 25, 2013 at 4:33 am

    What lovely memories you’ve shared, Talya. I love this prompt, because it can be interpreted in so many ways!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 25, 2013 at 5:18 am

      Thank you Corinne. I came up with this post topic at my writer group.

      Reply
  4. Kathy says

    July 25, 2013 at 5:51 am

    So many memories are created at the kitchen table. What a fun prompt! I look forward to coming up with something for this.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 25, 2013 at 6:56 am

      Thanks Kathy! Can’t wait to read your story:)

      Reply
  5. shellymona says

    July 25, 2013 at 8:25 am

    Most of our life revolves round this table collecting a lot to proceed further…Appreciate your way of looking to life through this medium…I wish I could come up with something amazing on this prompt….thanks

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 26, 2013 at 6:00 am

      Thank you! I hope you will link up.

      Reply
  6. Joyce Lansky says

    July 25, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    Great topic that helped bring back old memories. Looks like you had a lot of good times at the kitchen table.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/07/writers-post-kitchen-table.html

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 26, 2013 at 5:59 am

      Thanks Joyce. I loved your story – we have alot in common:))

      Reply
  7. Psych Babbler says

    July 26, 2013 at 5:29 am

    Great prompt…there were so many ways to tackle it that it was hard to choose. I love how something so ordinary can evoke such extraordinary memories… Just as you’ve conveyed in your post!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 26, 2013 at 6:00 am

      Thank you! Your story was haunting and sad. Thanks for linking up!

      Reply
  8. Bryan Jones says

    July 26, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    I suspect everybody knows, but it ain’t the table, it’s the people gathered around it! Good one!

    Reply
  9. MJ Shellabarger says

    July 28, 2013 at 2:38 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  10. Bhavya says

    July 29, 2013 at 4:11 am

    The Kitchen table, a seemingly unimportant piece of furniture, but so much a part of our lives. Thanks for this wonderful prompt 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 30, 2013 at 3:53 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  11. Barbara Tate says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:26 am

    Yes, the kitchen table brings back so many memories. Some happy. Some sad. Enjoyed this so much.

    Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Baylor graduate. Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Oct '22)

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