In 1979 I started off beautiful! My gleaming gold counter tops glistened. Sunshine made my floor sparkle. I was a joy to work in - and I could feel the energy. As was the custom then my pine cabinets were stained walnut. It was a rich dark color. Together with the chocolate brown floor and the harvest gold appliances I was a beauty to behold!

I can remember the parties that were held. The food that was prepared was inspiring. I can still smell the aroma of those dishes! But nothing lasts forever. Eventually my original occupants moved on and a family moved in. Nice people actually - but they had three little girls with very sticky fingers! They did try, but they were children. I started to suffer nicks in my woodwork, spills that got into cracks and corners. Slowly I drifted down hill.

At the same time that my family of little girls were heaping the 'wear and tear' on me, the culture changed! Harvest gold and avocado green were no longer the "in" colors. The walnut stain was replaced with lighter shades. Even my window had issues. The seal became loose and moisture blocked the view. I stopped sparkling even when spotless clean. When you can no longer see the beauty, the desire to clean me left. Many times my family let me sit dirty.

But then hope filled me again! The little girls moved on and I got a new family. This time I had boys. The first thing my new family did was clean the entire house from top to bottom. I didn't quite sparkle but I was no longer sticky. My orange striped wallpaper was clean, even if outdated. I felt rejuvenated. I have to give them credit. They did a good job for the first ten years. During that time they took off the orange striped wallpaper and painted me a nice neutral tan. They replaced the gold appliances with new. My cabinets were cleaned and my floor scrubbed.

I have to admit it was a happy time for me. I prepared my breakfasts for whoever stayed the night. Many times there were extra mouths to feed dinner. One by one my boys grew up and left home. I missed them and their friends. They would come home to visit from time to time but the space between visits lengthened.

As time went on I started to feel ingnored. Maybe it was because my floor started to chip away. My counter tops buckled in spots, glue came loose and parts of me broke off. I was a mess. I can't blame them for being gone. They started to eat out more. And they were gone more to visit my boys!

I did have one highlight. Once a year I started to host an ice cream social. For one day I would be filled with people laughing and having a good time. For that one day my defects were ignored.

Eventually business improved and after a little pushing from one of my boys, the decision was made to revamp me! I was excited. I became the center of attention. My drawers were sanded of the walnut stain and my groove that collected grease and dust was removed. What beauty that stain was covering! All the knots and grains of the original pine were exposed for all to see. I was treated with a clear varnish to protect my new finish. I got new handles. New cabinet doors were made to match the wood of my drawer fronts. My cabinets were painted a Turkish coffee color to blend with the woodwork of the rest of the house. And best of all I got a new countertop. This one was a light color. The countertop supported a new forest green one bowl deep sink. And you should see my new faucet! It's absolutely amazing. The portable dishwasher found a new home at the yard sale, and I now have a built-in dishwasher, giving me more counter space.

The large countertop was redesigned with a new pony wall that supports a breakfast bar. This makes a more clear distinction between my space in the kitchen and the dining room space. Many times I was crowded with papers from the side when I was trying to prepare food. No more! My space is mine, and I have three new electrical outlets so I don't have to have that ugly extension cord lying around.

My old cracked window was replaced with a sparkling new vinyl window. Now the sun can come streaming in again and make me sparkle. My energy is coming back!

There is still more work to be done. My walls will be tiled. I'm getting a new floor. My dish shelf has to be redesigned. But for now I feel content. The desire to spend time with me is coming back. I can hardly wait to hear the laughter and the conversations that will be held at my new breakfast bar! I wonder what kind of stools they will buy for me?