"Home Cooking"

In this piece, I noticed a great deal of connection between nature and nostalgia facilitated by the cooking process and the experience of being in the kitchen together with her grandmother. The grandmother described many memories involving the grandfather, his experience fishing and their relationship together while the granddaughter recalled her memories of playing outside as her grandmother looked on. The kitchen serves as a place for the two to gather and share. It conjures up old memories and connections between the two creating a special moment of reflection. Nature is described with several human qualities. It is obvious that the narrator and the grandmother both appreciate the connection between human life and natural phenomenons as one. The trees are described as breathing, their heart beats under the land, and the mountain is described as a lover. She recognizes the science behind the volcano from her teacher but she is able to see and appreciate both the spiritual and the physical. I enjoyed how the narrator drifted in and out of dream states as she cooked describing these mystical thoughts but snapping back to reality as something calls her attention. Dreams are obviously significant and important to her.