Grandma's Kitchen Cabinet

We didn't go to the sale of grandma's things, so we couldn't buy her kitchen cabinet. Our reason for wanting this antique furniture included the remembrance of grandma and our desire for a solid oak antique. But mainly, we were captivated by the idea that this item was the center of home life. The cabinet contained all the basics--flour, sugar, bread drawer and shelves for other staples. The kitchen cabinet also had a flat workspace to prepare meals. The cabinet, along with the cookstove, made sit-down-together family meals possible. They were the center of home life.

In contrast, families rarely eat together today and seldom eat food prepared from basic ingredients. We are in such a fast-paced, tightly-scheduled race to get through life, thus we take shortcuts in food preparation. I think the main reason my wife and I wanted grandma's kitchen cabinet was our desire for a slower and more centered life. Perhaps we can rediscover the life that reflects the values of balance and sustainbility.