My Hero, part two
Saturday February 19th 2011, 10:47 pm
Filed under: Family,Knit,Life

Thing the first:

Last night just around bedtime. Me: I smell something funny.

Him: I don’t smell anything.

Me: Something smells funny; I think it’s more here (standing under the air register in the hall while the heat is blowing.) Do you think the furnace is okay? (Given that we’ve had three die in 24 years here, this is easily worried over.)

Him: (getting out of bed to check) I’m sure it’s fine.

I walk away down the turn in the hall for a moment and suddenly hear behind me, Open the front door!

Me: What? (wondering, why on earth…)

Him: Open the front door, quick!

I run and do so and there he is right behind me, this thing in his hands, running to put it outside on the stone-and-concrete entryway and out in the rain.

Remember that battery pack that didn’t work? He’d tried again to see if he could recharge it after all. I’ve never seen a battery (and we are talking a big battery) bulging all over like a can with a severe case of botulism, ready to blow.

He hadn’t smelled a thing–but he was willing to get up and go check it out.

Thing the second:

As he got in the car tonight after disassembling the scooter in the rain and putting it in the trunk, he remarked, pleased, that I looked far more energetic than last night.

Well, yeah!

I thought, I didn’t have to spend the day anticipating going back across a very busy street and bouncing across the lightrail tracks in the dark and the rain, being low down and out of sight and trying not to be hit by cars while going to my own far across the parking lot, being so cold and soaked–you get a lot wetter sitting than standing–that I could barely feel my fingers, and the basket bouncing right off the wheelchair on an unseen pothole that splashed me and scared me that I might short the thing out while the countdown on the light cycle was getting ever closer, and how do I get to my basket! … And thank you to whoever it was that grabbed it and helped me out, and then I had to try not to be hit by cars in the lot backing out that couldn’t see me at all…

I’d scootered across that lot once after circling in the car for a half hour trying to avoid it, and I knew I had to go back out there. I waited to leave till there would be a crowd going at closing time so at least I wouldn’t be alone.

When I got home and described what it had been like, he went, Nuts to that, he was going  to take me and pick me up right at the door. And he did, and I knew I had no worries. He is *My Hero* (trademarked) and with good reason. I know how lucky I am.

I forgot yesterday to mention another new-to-me vendor that I found absolutely delightful and wanted to praise out loud: Ellen’s Wooly Wonders, with patterns for felted dinosaurs, motorcycles, butterflies, turtles, airplanes, crabs, etc, a new grandmother’s delight and a little kid’s too.  Dreams of orange dragons, in whatever color, came home with me.

My thanks to all the people who stopped me to say hello and for a hug the last two days while I had my head down trying not to cream anybody’s toes but missing the faces above me. Thank you for all the hugs, all the kind words, all the great times hanging out around fellow knitters and crocheters. Stitches West is one of the high points of my year because you all make it so. I hope I returned enough in kind. Lisa Souza, the folks at Abstract Fibers, Melinda and Tess at Tess Designer Yarns–more on that later–Sheila at Ernst Glass, Blue Moon, Malabrigo, Warren of the much-missed Marin Fiber Arts… So many people and I love every one of you. I tell you. This knitting thing: it’s a great life.

And Warm Hats Not Hot Heads is up to 171 tonight. Woohoo!


16 Comments so far
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He’s a keeper, that’s for sure πŸ™‚

I am always amazed at how infrastructure is planned around the car with little or no consideration for how you get anywhere on foot *from* your car (or your house, for that matter). At least in most countries. Now I am in the Netherlands I am still constantly surprised how they think differently about priorities in transport (bike is king!), and I wonder if it really will take the oil running out before others latch on to the idea…

Comment by tinebeest 02.20.11 @ 12:28 am

I’m committed to Madrona next year, but maybe the year after we can do Stitches West together. You sure make it sound fun (once you get inside).

And another hug for the Hero(TM).

Comment by twinsetellen 02.20.11 @ 5:36 am

So glad you had a great time at Stitches West and that hubby is always watching to make things easier for you.

Comment by Joansie 02.20.11 @ 5:47 am

Phew! Glad the battery story has a happy enough ending. Glad too that a layer of stress was removed so you could enjoy the day.

Comment by Channon 02.20.11 @ 7:48 am

What a great guy! He’s a “Keeper”.

Comment by Jody 02.20.11 @ 7:54 am

First things first — Parker is getting cuter by the day!

Good Grief, the Alien Battery from outer space!

Richard has the right idea — drop you off at the door. I hate parking lots when I’m on my scooter. I’ve often thought I should have an air horn to BLAST at cars backing without looking.

Comment by Don Meyer 02.20.11 @ 11:22 am

Hi Alison, I am catching up on a lot of posts today – it is so nice to see that wee little one fill out and grow bigger with each picture!
Also it is nice to see the number of hats go up at the same time. Somehow I missed that this campaign was still going on, I had only heard that it was canceled.
Yes your dear husband is a hero indeed. πŸ™‚
Oh and that Vitamix must be so wonderful! I got my first grown-up appliance this past Christmas with the help of my mom who gave me money for it: a kitchenaid mixer. I LOVE it. I hope you will enjoy many delicious meals from your mixer.
After you talking about Stitches, I am even more excited about Sock Summit now, because I know I will see you again! Hooray!

Comment by karin maag-tanchak 02.20.11 @ 3:32 pm

Oh and the only other time I’ve seen a battery do that was when my son’s cell phone started to bulge last year…not a good thing.

Comment by karin maag-tanchak 02.20.11 @ 3:33 pm

Stitches is one of my highlights, too…because of all the people I get to see just that once per year…like you! Glad your hero listened to you last night…or it could have been a real blast.

Comment by Ruth 02.20.11 @ 4:08 pm

Hooray for heroes!! Especially the quiet ones at home who are willing to get up and check strange smells that they can’t smell. πŸ™‚

Comment by Jocelyn 02.20.11 @ 7:59 pm

Maybe some day our scooters will meet. Hmmm. Maybe I should choreograph a dance, just in case :-}

Comment by Diana Troldahl 02.20.11 @ 9:27 pm

As usual, Don says it best! Hooray for hero-hubbies!

Maybe someday soon I’ll make it to Stitches West — I’ll look (carefully!) for you and your scooter!

Meanwhile, thanks for making me more aware of things below my level of sight when I’m backing out of parking spaces. My mom thinks I’m nuts when I drive because my head looks like it’s on a swivel. I’m just doing my bit not to run over the scooting crowd… πŸ˜‰

Comment by Pegi 02.21.11 @ 8:04 am

I saw you at Stitches on Friday! Didn’t stop to say hi because you were talking to other people — so I’m belatedly waving hello now. Glad to hear you had a good time despite the many hazards getting in and out.

Comment by Virginia 02.23.11 @ 4:50 pm

<3

Comment by Amy 02.26.11 @ 5:48 am

<> back to you! Again and again! I miss you already.

Comment by Warren 03.01.11 @ 1:20 am

Oooops, my last comment sucked big time. Here it is again:

HUGS!! back to you! Again and again! I miss you already. Seeing you again was the highlight of the weekend for me.

Comment by Warren 03.01.11 @ 1:22 am



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