The Genesis of a Kitchen by Christa Buswell A while back, a few people met to discuss the state of hospitality at St. A's. One comment struck home: "the condition of our kitchen speaks volumes about our hospitality." We looked at each other in stunned silence. And so it began. The Rector was advised that the natives are restless. Women without a kitchen are ruthless. Restless. A pain and a pest. That's why they usually win the battle of the kitchen. Hartshorn was told that he needed a Kitchen Cabinet, a la FDR. He agreed, and a few fearless souls were appointed. Led by calm, cool, and collected Bill Amlotte, they were: Marc Crocetti, Don and Mary Lloyd, Marla Murphy and yours truly. (It's what you get when you bug the Rector!) At a series of dinner meetings chez Murphy (himself being kicked out and sent to the movies), the first thing to raise its ugly head was MONEY! How are we going to pay for this? Fundraisers, of course. They were fun and productive, but raised only about half of the monies needed. We went screaming to the vestry, which was calming, supportive and gave the green light. Ahead we went, with a dizzying array of things needing to be done. Incomprehensively technical matters were discussed. Elevations. Soffits. I listened to all this, asked for another glass of wine and marveled, as always, about the male of the species being so turned on by all this stuff. Demolition crews, plumbers, electricians descended, tools and bills in hand, and a shell emerged, ready to be filled. Marc knew all about contractors. Mary recited every woman's kitchen creed. One suspects that she also tried to keep Don from going overboard. In vain, you don't stop a man with a mission. Much of my mis-spent youth having taken place around one, I insisted that there be a kitchen table. Marla dreamed and spoke of beauty. Bill controlled the turbulence of passionately held convictions through the prudent placement of marker-buoys called "who will do what and when?" Then, the big bang. Don and Marla turned into meteorites and took off into kitchen stratosphere. Don, who apparently knows every contractor and manufacturer in the world went forth and cashed in some chips. Got us class A appliances at class B prices. Marla, aka Ms. Michelangelo, had visions of color and design. Painted those gorgeous murals and tiles and drove the tile setters crazy about their placement. The two took off for IKEA and a number of more exotic venues. In due time, the kitchen cabinets were delivered, and all sorts of St. A-type gremlins appeared, bearing tool kits with every bit except the one needed and installed them. Once up, those cabinets were a call to action. Don and Marla went into orbit #2: light fixtures, faucets, appliances, countertops, tiles, flooring. The divine Miss M. consulted every muse, and the dream became reality. By now, you've seen it, and isn't it really a dream kitchen? Best of all, one December 24, 2004, at St. A's 26th Annual Christmas luncheon for the homeless, some 500 homeless guests were the first to be served from that kitchen. On January 9, 2005, you came and beheld and rejoiced. Friends, we are ready to offer hospitality of the finest kind to each other and the world. We thank the Kitchen Cabinet for a fabulous job, with special thanks to the Lloyd's son Ken for drawing all the plans and blueprints for us. Oh yes, the money. By the "Reveal" date of Jan. 9th, we had raised an astonishing $48,555.00, of the $64,000 total cost of the kitchen. Your generosity made a dream into a reality. The Kitchen Cabinet now retires to rest on its laurels. On to the joy of cooking! And eating! (Editor's Note: Our first community use of the new kitchen will be on Shrove Tuesday for a Mardi Gras party, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. If you'd like to help, sign up on Sundays to be one of the cooks, to decorate or be on the clean up team. During the Lenten Series (see related article on Via Media), the kitchen will be used on Wednesday evenings for our gatherings. If you have ideas about ways to use this new resource to strengthen our community or to reach out to others and are willing to work to make it happen, speak to the clergy or a member of the vestry.)
Copyright © 2005 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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