Lene tagged me
Tuesday June 17th 2008, 10:26 am
Filed under: Knit

Rachel Remen\'s booksLene tagged me yesterday with the meme about picking up a book, turning to page 123, starting at sentence five and reading the next three. The first two books I picked up, I looked at and went, nah, so I turned to Rachel Remen‘s “My Grandfather’s Blessings,” knowing I would likely find something good there to share here.

Remen’s patient, who had been very afraid of her upcoming cancer surgery to the point of having put it off for months, had finally gone in to see the surgeon. He was Japanese, and he had made her a beautiful white paper crane, eight inches across. Remen’s patient told her, “The man who is going to operate on me tomorrow can make such a thing with his hands. And he made it for me. How could I possibly not heal?”

Remen writes, “I have wondered for years why some surgeons have far better outcome data than others who are equally well trained,” adding, “Perhaps some have found their own way to strengthen the will to live in their patients long before they meet them in the operating room.”

The surgeon had taken the time to create something beautiful–and one can create beauty with caring, it doesn’t have to be something physical–but he had given her a tangible, visual manifestation of his wanting her to be well.

Like we who knit do with yarn ourselves. There is great power for good in the work of our hands with our hearts.

(With thanks to Brynn, who, while in elementary school, made me this paper crane to wish me better while I was in the hospital. Five years later, I keep it proudly on display on our organ.)


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“Though there was not aa breath of wind they all stirred about her. The rustling noise of the leaves was almost like words. The nightingale stopped singing as if to listen to it.”

From Prince Caspian, when Lucy is talking to the trees, just before she meets Aslan again.

Comment by Kristine 06.17.08 @ 11:19 am

“…Not that I ever get, or expect, a word of thanks from staff, customers, or, the Lord forbid, our Richard. Well, it’s not that I wasn’t warned. Me poor mam begged me, on her bended knees, not to marry a musician.”

From “Liverpool Fantasy” by Larry Kirwan. An interesting fictional speculation on what might have happened if The Beatles hadn’t made it. My favorite isn’t on page 123, but…

John Lennon to George Harrison: “Remember what you used to tell me about sevenths, Georgie? They’re what make rock ‘n roll tick, because they keep you off balance and never let you resolve. That’s the story of our lives, mate. Now, just play the bloody thing and quit bollocksin’ around!”

Comment by Paula 06.17.08 @ 2:34 pm

I have done this Meme…. but I was reading a book on personal finance, so it wasn’t nearly as beautiful a sentiment as yours! ha ha….

Comment by Amanda 06.17.08 @ 6:51 pm

What a wonderful story!

Comment by Toni 06.17.08 @ 6:58 pm

Sometimes reading blogs is like uncovering little jewels on a beach. Thank you for this, I’m feeling unwell and sorry for myself this morning, and your story has really cheered me up.

Comment by PrincessPea 06.18.08 @ 1:45 am

The first two books I picked up, I looked at and went, nah, so I turned to Rachel Remen’s “My Grandfather’s Blessings,” knowing I would likely find something good there to share here.

Comment by Mary Khan 06.18.08 @ 3:51 am

He was Japanese, and he had made her a beautiful white paper crane, eight inches across. Remen’s patient told her, “The man who is going to operate on me tomorrow can make such a thing with his hands.

Comment by Mary Khan 06.18.08 @ 3:52 am

Fun! I did this one a while back, but it’s a great way to get ideas for my reading queue.

Comment by Channon 06.18.08 @ 6:06 am

Very cool book! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 06.18.08 @ 6:36 am



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