Shawl-om
Monday April 26th 2010, 10:50 pm
Filed under: Friends,Knitting a Gift,LYS,Wildlife

Kurt at Imagiknit asked Saturday what a peregrine is, after I exclaimed that that soft handspun Peruvian Tweed alpaca in shades of gray would make a great peregrine. (Are peregrines soft? But then, how could feathers not be?)

I so much wanted to show him Evet’s gorgeous Earth Day photos in response. I think they could answer his question better than I ever could.  And man, ya gotta love those last two: someone had slammed a door loudly behind Evet, and Mama Clara announced, Okay, that’s it, you’re done. Bye.

And that was what I’d planned to blog about today.  And then I got an email.

That shawl that I mailed off that had so bugged me that it had taken me three weeks, what with taxes and all, to finish and get done: it arrived today where it was going.  On the most right day, and the delays that had seemed such a problem to me suddenly made sense.  The person I sent it to took the time to thank me right away, which amazes me after all the things she had to deal with and do today–including attending a service for a fourth-grader from her school who had passed on Saturday.

I am so glad I didn’t ignore the impulse to go knit that.  I am so grateful that my hug arrived around her shoulders the first day possible after the loss of that little girl she knew. This is what knitting is all about: sending love forward.

I forgot to tell her one thing, though, which is that if it should ever snag or tear, there is a spare length of yarn worked a good ways across the bottom row.  Anywhere else, surely it would get lost or tossed, but there it is.  Invisible but right there at hand, ready to reloop a broken loop, ready to hold it back together for her, at the ready, any time.

Which is as close as I could do to doing that in person for her from several thousand miles away.


9 Comments so far
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Evet’s photos of Clara are amazing! And, by the way, so are you, with your impeccable sense of timing, and knowing exactly what needs to be done, even if you’re not quite sure about it.

Comment by Kathy in San Jose 04.27.10 @ 12:19 am

There are no coincidences. 😉 We should all be so receptive to what is going on around us!

Comment by Channon 04.27.10 @ 6:18 am

I’m not a very spiritual person, but reading things like that bring me a little closer. All things make sense in the long run, and you’re one of the few I know who recognize that and take advantage of it. I can’t imagine the conflict of emotions your friend must be going through – devastation and joy intermingled.

Comment by Sandra 04.27.10 @ 6:42 am

Such a good idea. I have been asked to make several shawls for a lady who wants them for Christmas gifts and I will do that. Pictures are good,, too.

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 04.27.10 @ 7:55 am

Timing is everything, and I agree with Channon — there are no coincidences.

Fun –

“Airplane travel is nature’s way to make you look like your passport” Al Gore.
On the other hand …
“An airplane is a great place to diet.” Wolfgang Puck

Comment by Don Meyer 04.27.10 @ 8:52 am

Channon is so very right.

I can’t tell you what a gift you are because of all that you give to others. Thank you for sharing your stories and for always being there to listen, but thank you, especially, for that hug.

Comment by Momo Fali 04.27.10 @ 7:04 pm

That is a wonderful idea! I will remember that. And yes, that shawl sounds like it arrived at just the right time.

Comment by Jocelyn 04.27.10 @ 8:25 pm

Everything happens for a reason, even taxes, huh? Life is full of twists…

That is a brilliant idea – the length of yarn! So much prettier than giving the leftover from a ball (which is what I gave my mother after she had the Julia on her shoulders). I’m taking notes. 🙂

Comment by Suzanne in Montreal 04.28.10 @ 6:08 am

Absolutely.
I had a similar timing incident. I sent a shawl and some lovely artsy fabric to my artist friend in California via priority mail. It took 8 days to arrive, but got there on exactly the best day to comfort her.

Comment by Diana Troldahl 04.28.10 @ 4:37 pm



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