Coming up ahead
Sunday January 04th 2009, 7:59 pm
Filed under: Crohn's flare

I have many thanks I owe to so many; I am grateful for your caring.

I was resting tonight, re-reading one of my favorite books, Rachel Remen’s “My Grandfather’s Blessings,” when the visual image came to me of sitting in my usual perch in the other room, knitting a large, soft afghan spread across my lap and way across the couch. Instantly I wanted to be doing that.  Later, I will.  For who, I have no idea yet, but there is an afghan somehow needing to be made: skeins to go through, design ideas to toss around, yarnovers to be wrapped.

But just the mental image comforted me greatly. I had knit just such an afghan; it was for my doctor who had willed me to live last time, when things were so much worse than they are now, who had pulled me through when things were so bad.  As soon as I was able to after I got out of the hospital, I put heart and soul with the encouragement of my family and put in stitch after stitch, hour after hour to share with him some of the time on this planet he had made it so I would have.  To thank his family as well for loaning so much of him to ours in our time of need.

The joy and stunned disbelief and humility with which he accepted it from my hands meant the world to me.

And that experience I can never duplicate; every moment belongs to itself.  But there is a soft afghan waiting to be made and discoveries to commence happening whose beginnings spread out before my eyes as I was reading, and I cannot wait to bring them to pass.


19 Comments so far
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“every moment belongs to itself.” Dear friend, I love how you write,and I love how you live.

Comment by Johnna 01.04.09 @ 10:26 pm

I love that you are always looking for ways to acknowledge your friends and medical support staff with your craft. It’s a very personal gift and you make people feel so special. I know how much I love my lace scarf. A real beauty.
Believe it or not I started a granny square afghan when my sister was in the hospital this past fall. Needed something to do to keep her company and found that I never had forgotten how to do the squares :O) Now I just need to finish the darn thing!
Bev

Comment by Bev 01.04.09 @ 10:50 pm

Some lucky person out there will no doubt reveal their need of the “afghan to be” and will then be blessed with your beloved stitches. I’m thinking of you and hoping you are feeling better soon.

Comment by Allison 01.05.09 @ 12:28 am

As a lucky recipient of two of your pieces, I understand the honor the doctor must have felt.

Comment by Amanda 01.05.09 @ 4:04 am

It’s quite refreshing to see someone make a splash in the *good* pool in this time when good is scoffed at & evil is called fun. May your needles fly. 🙂

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 01.05.09 @ 5:48 am

What a blessing to have been given a glimpse of a knitting mission. I feel certain you will have the strength to knit it, and receive great comfort, yourself, as you knit it.

Comment by Barbara-Kay 01.05.09 @ 6:48 am

Goals are good. I have faith that your fingers will indeed find their way to that project!

Comment by Channon 01.05.09 @ 6:59 am

I love you.

Comment by Kristine 01.05.09 @ 8:48 am

The recipient will be absolutely delighted. I can’t wait to see a picture.

Comment by Joansie 01.05.09 @ 9:17 am

Your kindness and caring just keeps shining through.
Hugs.

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 01.05.09 @ 9:34 am

Alison, you have my direct email – if you would like my phone mumber in case you need me for *anything* – drop me a line so I can send it to you. I love you

M

Comment by Mary Seabrook 01.05.09 @ 11:16 am

Maybe that yarn just wanted to sit on your lap and hug your for a while before finding out who else it was supposed to love

Comment by Laura 01.05.09 @ 12:42 pm

I agree with Laura, maybe the yarn needs to hug you for awhile. Then, I’m sure the recipient will reveal him/herself.

Comment by Alicia 01.05.09 @ 1:35 pm

now you get the fun of planning — patterns to pour over – yarn to fondle – colors to decide on. isnt it great that we have a hobby that all parts of it are so much fun

Comment by rho1640 01.05.09 @ 1:39 pm

I look forward to seeing who the afghan is for. This next person will receive the gift in the same way your doctor did, because there is so much of you and so much joy and love in your knitting.

Comment by Vicki 01.05.09 @ 2:19 pm

I am forever inspired by you!

Comment by Luanne 01.05.09 @ 3:15 pm

I understand your Crohn’s issues all too well. We dealt with our son almost bleeding to death then 2 1/2 months in the hospital in a year before he got on Remicade. It’s turned his life around and he’s working and living like a young man should be able to. Isn’t it nice to have a wonderful friend like knitting to comfort you when you’re down?

Comment by Cindi 01.05.09 @ 4:42 pm

Ohhh I can’t wait to see and read about the afghan.

Rest up.

Many hugs,
Karin

Comment by karin 01.05.09 @ 5:02 pm

That does sound comforting! Enjoy the planning process, I know you put your heart and soul into everything you knit, even before it’s knit. I hope it brings you and the lucky recipient much joy and comfort.

Comment by Joelle 01.06.09 @ 4:31 pm



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