Kitchen Waltz Story
Sometimes a wish gets stirred up in the alchemy of lyrics and melody and manifests more than a song The true story of the Kitchen Waltz started with a momentary encounter that turned into an answered wish.
Kitchen Waltz was written in 1993 when I had pretty much given up on love. I treated myself to a ticket to hear Itzak Perlman the night before at the Civic (now Keller) Auditorium. As I walked to the concert, I saw a very old couple holding hands with arms entwiined in front of me, moving slow and steady, in small careful steps , Seamed together at the shoulders they were smiling,, braced to navigate a body of two. I was captivated. Long life lines mapped their wrinkled faces and they exuded a light loving countenance with each other. It must have kicked my nostalgia into high gear because I remember those few seconds so vividly all these years later. The next day was a sunny Sunday and, in my usual Sunday morning fashion, I picked up my guitar to play a little at my kitchen table. I ran some runs, chords and interval down the neck and up again and before long, a melody began to come and words followed..My thoughts went back to the love charge I felt between the old man and the old woman, a spark that had clearly been lit and burning for most of their lives. I wondered if it was too late for me? Or if I would ever find that kind of love that makes you hold on to each other with both arms and never let go.
I pictured the old woman stirring supper at the stove back home. She looks over at her old man asleep in the rocking chair as she putters. I took her gaze to heart and wondered what thoughts or wishes she may have had as he softly snored. Dancing in the kitchen has its own spicy joy for those who indulge in the movable embrace with a loved one. I pondered what it must feel like to be that couple, together for so long and happy after all the years, and the song sprang in her voice from her thoughts there in that imaginary kitchen. The love felt in the Kitchen Waltz belonged to them. Now the song belongs to everyone. I’m thankful for the magic that seeing their love stirred up in me to create that song, and for the secret wish in my heart that was soon answered from the blessing of that little snapshot on the street on their little walk in downtown Portland.
Later that month I was shopping for strings and picks from musician, Steve Einhorn at Artichoke Music (my go-to for music gear since 1977). This time when our eyes smiled across the counter something clicked. The rest is history. I never tire of singing the Kitchen Waltz with Steve, and hope those two old souls can hear it from wherever they are in their own beautiful dance somewhere out of time.
