I am taking a break from my next short story , which has sort of gotten a life of its own …. it is fighting to get out .. but as I sit here at the breakfast bar in the kitchen of #14 i was asked to make coffee by Val I have paused and I am considering the scientifically proven fact , mostly by me when I stand next to fridges at 2 AM, that the kitchen is not merely a room for food preparation. It is the command center of the universe, the VIP lounge of the home, and the only place where the acoustics make you sound like a Grammy winner while holding a wooden spoon.
They say the living room is for living, but let’s be honest: the living room is just a waiting area for the kitchen. The kitchen is where the real magic happens. It is a multi-purpose facility that functions as a Michelin-star restaurant (when the toast doesn’t burn), a high-stakes literary agency, and an underground DJ booth and I write short stories there, and it makes perfect sense.
There is no greater muse than the hum of a refrigerator. It whispers, “You can do this. Also, there is cheese in here.” Writers block? No problem. Just stare into the open big drawer beside the cooker for five minutes until an idea, or a bag of chips, reveals itself. The breakfast bar is the only desk in the world that comes with a built-in crumb supply for emotional support.The Internet Research Lab, “Playing with the internet” in the kitchen is a dangerous and beautiful game. One minute you are looking up a synonym for “ephemeral,” and three hours later you are watching a tutorial on how to ferment your own kimchi while standing over the sink eating a cold slice of pizza. The kitchen Wi-Fi just hits different. It tastes like productivity seasoned with procrastination
Discovering new music? Of course. The kitchen has the best acoustics in the house. The cupboards provide a natural reverb that turns a quiet hum into an operatic performance. Plus, the appliances provide the percussion. The rhythmic thump-thump of the washing machine is basically the bass line for your life.
So, yes, the kitchen is where the magic happens. It is the only place where you can write a masterpiece, discover a new indie band, and accidentally boil a pot of water dry all at the same time. It is the heart of the home, mostly because it keeps feeding the other organs.
It just keeps making magic (and snacks)!