AlisonH
“You can’t have it, Jessie, it’s mine!” Cheryl grinned at her teenager, who was stroking it. I had just given her a handspun angora scarf, simply done in a triangle shape: cast on three stitches and knit into the front and back of the last stitch on each row till it’s the size you want. It was before I knew how to knit lace. But spinning I could do, knitting I could do, softness in the face of Cheryl’s cancer, this was what I could do to cheer her on. It had been a few years since I’d made her a Kaffe Fassett sweater at my husband’s urging at his sister’s diagnosis, which was the first time I knew my husband got this whole knitting thing: Richard had even driven an hour away across the Bay with me to Straw Into Gold to help pick out the colors.
White angora this time. Cheryl beat the odds and continued on, as her doctors tried one therapy and then another. For eight years.
My in-laws left this morning to help out with the next grandchild’s wedding, and I found myself taking stock: finish the cashmere and silk project. Okay, I can do that today. Keep the second WIP off to the side–that purple one that’s mostly done can wait yet a little longer, because the person getting it has no clue and there’s no rush (even if *I* want it finished. I don’t like to let things sit like that.) There’s the ocean Sea Silk I bought for my mother-in-law that needs to get started, and the blue-formerly-Bare I’d like to dive into.
But. Most importantly. There’s the niece getting married in two weeks.
Jessie was in college when Cheryl finally passed; her dad had bugged out of his sick wife’s life about halfway through. (I debated long and hard about mentioning that here. One could write all kinds of outrage here and in the comments, and they would be soundly deserved by him, but not by his daughter.) If ever a young woman deserved some knitting from me in support and in celebration of her new happiness…
Whichever yarn in my stash wins out, I promise you it will be something exquisitely soft.
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She sounds like a deserving recipient if I’ve ever heard of one!
Comment by Michelle 06.16.08 @ 12:57 pmThose are beautiful yarns! I’m sure your niece will love your gift of love & yarn. 🙂
Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 06.16.08 @ 1:37 pmWhatever you make, she’s sure to love it. It’s from you!
Comment by no-blog-rachel 06.16.08 @ 2:46 pmGraduation college is tough enough without extraneous challenges. She sounds like a deserving kid and I know you will make something special.
Comment by Sandra 06.16.08 @ 5:57 pmMy favorite all time “bug out when spouse is sick” happened to my FIL. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer, got operated on, was recovering from the anestheia in the recovery room, his wife came in and served him with divorce papers! Wow.impressive. And not in a good way. Glad you could make a good impression on her memory! hopefully it overstamped soem of the bad.
Comment by Carol 06.16.08 @ 6:35 pmWell, some people teach us how to behave by positive example, some by negative. I know she will like her shawl.
Comment by Laura in Alameda, CA 06.16.08 @ 10:35 pmYou do lead by a very positive example!
I’m sure your hands will land on just the right thing. It seems they always do.
Comment by Channon 06.17.08 @ 5:51 amWhatever you decide on will be beautiful just like the Aunt who is making it! Jesse will love and use it because it is from you no matter what pattern you use 🙂
Comment by Danielle from SW MO 06.17.08 @ 7:10 amI can’t imagine that anything you make her will be less than utterly gorgeous, and an added joy for a joyful occasion. I’m sure she’ll adore it.
This appears to be a wedding-heavy year for you!
Comment by RobinH 06.17.08 @ 7:55 amIt’s a really good thing that I don’t live near you, because nothing that you finished would ever make it to the intended recipients. I’d be at your house every afternoon, plying you with chocolate, and then yarn and lace would mysteriously be missing.
Maybe it’s a good thing I live all the way across the country. 🙂
Comment by Kristine 06.17.08 @ 8:54 amIt will mean so much coming from you.
Wow two weddings in the family the same summer.
Can’t wait to see what you create.
What a touching post. I’m sure you’ll find just the right soft thing to create for your niece.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and sharing your friend’s story who is dealing with breast cancer. I have meet so many wonderful and caring people through my blog after I revealed my BC diagnoses. I have found it so therapeutic to talk about my “pink” journey and share my experiences with others. It’s a long hard road in which love and support are so critical. Thanks again for your inspiring words. Take care,
Cindy
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