For Aunt Gail

An ode to the women of my family

"There's a reason they only name hurricanes after women"
(I hope you take this observation as a compliment)

The women in my family will not let other people into the kitchen when they cook
They say anyone else will get in their way
They cook with the same ruthless efficiency
That they run schools, or health centers, or political campaigns.

I'm afraid I have inherited this unwillingness to let others run my kitchen
In my kitchen the dishes are always done
In my kitchen the counters are always wiped down
It drove my roommates crazy but how could I explain to them
That this desire, this compulsion was my birthright
Ingrained in my DNA like my height (or lack theirof).
Same as the half-learned Jewish shabbas prayer I kind of know

"There's a reason they name hurricanes after women"
(I hope you take this observation as a compliment)