(Typed while wearing Jasmin’s handspun and -knitted socks.)
I met up with Gigi of the Knitmore Girls and some of the Minions of the Pointy Sticks at Le Boulanger down thataway today.
Four years, maybe five, you’d think I’d have taken a picture of it by now. Sorry for another no show here.
Anyway, the story, and I think I’ve told some of it before, is: I was going to Stitches West one time, and it was the first time I was trying to manage my electric chair by myself which I need for long days out.
Open side door of minivan, pull out unattached ramp, unfold ramp, set it up in doorway, done.
Except the “This side up” sticker happened to have been glued on the wrong side. My husband had never noticed; he just intuitively got the mechanics of the thing, like I would have if it had been something reasonable, like, say, a knitting pattern.
Which is why when I started backing that 250 pound chair down the ramp the hinge was on the wrong side and the whole thing collapsed on my foot.
Annnnndddd, the newly-charged battery hadn’t held the charge. It was nearly dead. Just enough juice to get it back up in there with the desperately-needed help of some random passersby.
It was not starting out well here. I IM’d my husband and he offered immediately to leave work, rescue me, and get me in for x-rays.
“I have waited a year for Stitches and I am going to Stitches!”
I made it to my friend Karen’s booth, holding myself together right up till that point, but the moment Karen and Gigi looked at my face and asked, wonderingly, “Are you all right?” I lost it and bawled in pain and frustration and worry.
Gigi’s daughter Jasmin (and Gigi and Karen, for that matter) offered to drop everything and drive me to the doctor; when I said I just couldn’t go yet, not when I’d just gotten here, and besides, they needed to man their booth, Gigi’s then-teenage son Sam came to my rescue. He went out, found someone in charge somewhere there at the Santa Clara Convention Center, came back with a manual wheelchair which by now I really really needed, and proceeded to push me around for the next two hours. He was very patient with my being interested in random people or yarns going by–oh, look at *that*! Ooh, that’s pretty! Hey, Alicia! BARBARA! How ya *doin’*!  Stitches West is a grand reunion as well as a knitter’s Disneyland. Sam was the soul of gentleness and totally put up with the craziness that is me at those conferences, all while being very mindful of where my foot was going.
He got me to Lisa Souza‘s booth, where I bought some sock merino in her Seafoam colorway and showed it off to Gigi before calling it a day, and Gigi exclaimed over it, telling me she’d bought the same colorway from Lisa too.
Two weeks later, when I’d recovered enough to make the drive, I took Sam one of my chocolate tortes and thanked him for being my hero when I’d so much needed him. Such a nice kid! I wanted him to know how much his cheerful readiness to help and his patience had meant to me.
Gigi is having heart surgery next week. What she never knew, was, I knitted up that Seafoam all that time ago and set it aside for the right moment: whether it was for her to wear to brag on her son or for Sam’s future bride someday way off in the future, I did not know. But it could not possibly go to any other family. That skein of yarn had too many important memories from those moments to mean as much to anyone else. It was for them.
I told Gigi all that today as I handed it to her for her to wear now.
Heal well, friend. As your family helped me to, too, on many an occasion by now.
13 Comments so far
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With heart surgery it is SO important to have no doubt about the outcome, to have complete faith and trust and to think very positively. I know. I’ve been there. And 12 years later I’m still here! Gigi & her surgical team are in my prayers.
Love & Hugs,
Comment by Gretchen 10.18.09 @ 1:41 amAwesome story. I’m looking forward to seeing Gigi wearing it after her successful surgery.
Comment by (formerly) no-blog-rachel 10.18.09 @ 7:24 amSam must be a gem, and Gigi of course must get that seafoam yarn.
(I think you meant Stitches West, not East)
Comment by Renee 10.18.09 @ 7:45 amFunny how things just seem to work out. My best to Gigi.
Comment by sherry in idaho 10.18.09 @ 8:28 amGd wished for Gigi, and special Good Wishes for Sam.
Although with a bright spirit like that, he’ll likely pass them on :-}
Diana (who also had strangers push me up into a van last winter, saving my life, or at least my head from a 5 foot drop onto concrete)
Comment by Diana Troldahl 10.18.09 @ 9:28 amGood wishes for Gigi, and special Good Wishes for Sam.
Although with a bright spirit like that, he’ll likely pass them on :-}
Diana (who also had strangers push me up into a van last winter, saving my life, or at least my head from a 5 foot drop onto concrete)
Comment by Diana Troldahl 10.18.09 @ 9:29 amWhat a wonderful story. I’m positive Gigi and her family have a host of true friends and solid support, but I’ll add my prayers and good wishes just the same.
Comment by Channon 10.18.09 @ 10:04 amWow! What a story! You found out what I too have learned over the years — ordinary folks can be extraordinarily kind and helpful. Of COURSE Gigi will be fine after the surgery!
Humor –


A couple go for a meal at a Chinese restaurant and order the ‘Chicken Surprise’, The waiter brings the meal, served in a lidded cast iron pot. 

Just as the wife is about to serve herself, the lid of the pot rises slightly and she briefly sees two beady little eyes looking around before the lid slams back down.

’Good grief, did you see that?’ she asks her husband. He hasn’t, so she asks him to look in the pot.. He reaches for it and again the lid rises, and he sees two little eyes looking around before it slams down. 

Rather perturbed, he calls the waiter over, explains what is happening, and demands an explanation.

’Please sir,’ says the waiter, ‘what you order?’

The husband replies, ‘Chicken Surprise.’

’Ah! So sorry,’ says the waiter, ‘I bring you Peeking Duck!’
Comment by Don Meyer 10.18.09 @ 11:00 amYou got me choked up on this one. What a nice young man. He reminded me of a very find young man I once knew who would help others also.
Prayers for the God to skillfully guide the surgeon’s hands for your friend to have a successful operation and a speedy recovery.
Comment by Joansie 10.18.09 @ 12:07 pmAnother poignant story. You just attract the nicest people. Good luck to GiGi. She has a very fine son and much to look forward to after a healthy recovery — while draped in a frothy Seafoam confection!
Comment by Madeline 10.18.09 @ 8:16 pmBest wishes for a speedy recovery for your friend!
And thank Heavens for Sam and his generosity.
What were the results of your visit to the doctor, after that incident? Nothing major, I assume…
Comment by Suzanne in Mtl 10.19.09 @ 5:53 amso sweet. i hope she is doing well and the recovery is swift. i love you stories, they give so much in the telling.
Comment by marti 10.19.09 @ 9:09 amWhat a great story! Sam sounds like a treasure and I’ll keep Gigi in my thoughts and prayers. I really like how you somehow (magically?) always have knitted the right gift at the right time. I aspire to have as generous a nature as you. *hug*
Comment by Ruby Louise 10.19.09 @ 4:38 pmLeave a comment
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