--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first day, I stood in the kitchen…" description: "\"“The first day, I stood in the kitchen leaning against the counter watching Annie feed the cats, and I knew I wanted to be able to do that forever: sta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/nancy-garden-27466_first-day_the-first-day-i-stood-in-the-kitchen-lea_547998.jpg" --- # The first day, I stood in the kitchen leaning against the… ![“The first day, I stood in the kitchen leaning against the counter watching Annie feed the cats, and I knew I wanted to be able to do that forever: stand in kitchens watching Annie feed cats. Our kitchens. Our cats.” quote by Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/nancy-garden-27466_first-day_the-first-day-i-stood-in-the-kitchen-lea_547998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/nancy-garden-27466_first-day_the-first-day-i-stood-in-the-kitchen-lea_547998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/nancy-garden-27466_first-day_the-first-day-i-stood-in-the-kitchen-lea_547998.jpg) > ““The first day, I stood in the kitchen leaning against the counter watching Annie feed the cats, and I knew I wanted to be able to do that forever: stand in kitchens watching Annie feed cats. Our kitchens. Our cats.”” [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator finds deep joy in simple, domestic moments, longing to make them lasting. **In simple terms:** Loving everyday moments. Key Takeaway Cherish simple joys. Themes domestic bliss longing memory Mood nostalgic warm Type literary personal When to use this quote - family life - pet ownership - personal reflection Key Concepts routine attachment caregiving Questions to Reflect On - What simple scene brings you peace? - How can you turn daily moments into lasting memories? A Different Perspective Idealizing routine may overlook broader aspirations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Annie Feed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annie-feed-1777664/) [Cats Kitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats-kitchens-4567476/) [Cats Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats-knew-1777665/) [First Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day/) [Kitchens Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitchens-cats-4567475/) [Kitchens Watching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitchens-watching-4567477/) ## Related quotes > [The 1st day, I stood in the kitchen leaning against the counter watching Annie feed the cats, and I knew I wanted to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/the-1st-day-i-stood-in-the-kitchen-leaning-against-the-counter/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“Jesus, she called her cat "Mr. Purrsie Purrs." Colt didn't know much about cats but he knew hers wasn't a stupid one and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/jesus-she-called-her-cat-mr-purrsie-purrs-colt-didn-t-know-much-about/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“She left the room, with her black-and-white kitty, Ruff, Elizabeth, Naiad and Persephone- a spotted gray-and-white shorthair- following on her heels in hopes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/she-left-the-room-with-her-black-and-white-kitty-ruff-elizabeth-naiad/) [Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/) > [Will closed his eyes. He could not hear Jem go, not anymore; he did not want to know the moment when he left and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-closed-his-eyes-he-could-not-hear-jem-go-not-anymore-he-did-not/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“How about we move forward from here, first day of forever, and no one from our past is relevant to what we have together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/how-about-we-move-forward-from-here-first-day-of-forever-and-no-one/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) > [It's the first day of spring. That means this weekend I'll take down my Christmas lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/it-s-the-first-day-of-spring-that-means-this-weekend-i-ll-take-down/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I will be known forever as the Puppy who chased a cutpurse and caught fish garbage instead. 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"Two things," she says, "One: know all their names by tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/it-s-my-first-day-teaching-i-say-to-her-give-me-some-advice-two/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [“This means that the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, live in the bright interval between Easter and the final great consummation. Let's make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/this-means-that-the-church-the-followers-of-jesus-christ-live-in-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviation/) ## More by Nancy Garden > [And Annie showed me how ailanthus trees grow under subway and sewer gratings, stretching toward the sun, making shelter in the summer, she said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/and-annie-showed-me-how-ailanthus-trees-grow-under-subway-and-sewer/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“She's a social worker, Karen," Mac said when I told the group. "She must know something about homosexuality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/she-s-a-social-worker-karen-mac-said-when-i-told-the-group-she-must/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“Don't let ignorance win', said Ms. Stevenson. 'Let love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/don-t-let-ignorance-win-said-ms-stevenson-let-love/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“Have you ever felt really close to someone? So close that you can't understand why you and the other person have two separate bodies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/have-you-ever-felt-really-close-to-someone-so-close-that-you-can-t/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [Ugh! Young girls, they should laugh. Life's bad enough when you're grown, you might as well laugh when you're young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/ugh-young-girls-they-should-laugh-life-s-bad-enough-when-you-re-grown/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“I am happy, I tried to tell him with my eyes. I'm happy with Annie; she and my work are all I'll ever need;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/i-am-happy-i-tried-to-tell-him-with-my-eyes-i-m-happy-with-annie-she/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [Don't let ignorance win. Let love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/don-t-let-ignorance-win-let-love/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“It felt a little as if we'd found a script that had been written just for us, and we were reading through the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/it-felt-a-little-as-if-we-d-found-a-script-that-had-been-written-just/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [Liza-don't let it make any difference. It won't, will it? With us, I mean." "Of course it won't," I told her. But I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/liza-don-t-let-it-make-any-difference-it-won-t-will-it-with-us-i-mean/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [Don't punish yourselves for people's ignorant reactions to what we all are. Don't let ignorance win. Let love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/don-t-punish-yourselves-for-people-s-ignorant-reactions-to-what-we/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [The thing about mountains is that you have to keep on climbing them, and that it's always hard, but there's a view from top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/the-thing-about-mountains-is-that-you-have-to-keep-on-climbing-them/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“Chad kept kidding me that I was in love, and asking with whom, and then Sally and Walt did, too, and after a while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/chad-kept-kidding-me-that-i-was-in-love-and-asking-with-whom-and-then/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“I went downstairs to Dad’s encyclopedia and looked up HOMOSEXUALITY, but that didn’t tell me much about any of the things I felt. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/i-went-downstairs-to-dad-s-encyclopedia-and-looked-up-homosexuality/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“There’s a Greek legend—no, it’s in something Plato wrote—about how true lovers are really two halves of the same person. It says that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/there-s-a-greek-legend-no-it-s-in-something-plato-wrote-about-how/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [The 1st day, I stood in the kitchen leaning against the counter watching Annie feed the cats, and I knew I wanted to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/the-1st-day-i-stood-in-the-kitchen-leaning-against-the-counter/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) [Explore all 20 Nancy Garden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) ## More First Day quotes > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviation/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“This means that the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, live in the bright interval between Easter and the final great consummation. Let's make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/this-means-that-the-church-the-followers-of-jesus-christ-live-in-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“It's my first day teaching," I say to her, "Give me some advice." "Two things," she says, "One: know all their names by tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/it-s-my-first-day-teaching-i-say-to-her-give-me-some-advice-two/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [First day that I saw you, thought you were beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jls/first-day-that-i-saw-you-thought-you-were-beautiful/) [JLS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jls/) > [I will be known forever as the Puppy who chased a cutpurse and caught fish garbage instead. My descendants will pretend I'm not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/i-will-be-known-forever-as-the-puppy-who-chased-a-cutpurse-and-caught/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [It's the first day of spring. That means this weekend I'll take down my Christmas lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/it-s-the-first-day-of-spring-that-means-this-weekend-i-ll-take-down/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“How about we move forward from here, first day of forever, and no one from our past is relevant to what we have together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/how-about-we-move-forward-from-here-first-day-of-forever-and-no-one/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) > [Will closed his eyes. He could not hear Jem go, not anymore; he did not want to know the moment when he left and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-closed-his-eyes-he-could-not-hear-jem-go-not-anymore-he-did-not/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [It's a special club, and everybody opened their arms to me from the first day. The fans and my team-mates treated me wonderfully since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-adebayor/it-s-a-special-club-and-everybody-opened-their-arms-to-me-from-the/) [Emmanuel Adebayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-adebayor/) > [That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred ans sixty-three, all persons held as slaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/that-on-the-first-day-of-january-in-the-year-of-our-lord-one-thousand/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I was hearing music in my head and trying to play it on the clarinet, but it didn't match.' Then, literally the first day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/i-was-hearing-music-in-my-head-and-trying-to-play-it-on-the-clarinet/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) [Browse all 1,209 First Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The first day, I stood in the kitchen leaning against the counter watching Annie feed the cats, and I knew I wanted to be able to do that forever: stand in kitchens watching Annie feed cats. Our kitchens. 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