friend

I met a woman about my age in the shoe department at Macy's. Her delightful two year old daugher entertained all within viewing. My last daughter was a surprise and I enjoyed this woman's story as she regaled the sales clerk and other customers with the tale of this latest addition to her family. We shared the ups and downs of parenthood over a wide span of years. Hers was broader than my 13 - an amazing 17 years between oldest and youngest, she also has 4 children. She told me she had moved to our area at the end of last summer for her husband's employment and her other children still live out of state.
She had recently returned from helping one of her daughters with a premature delivery. Grandbabies and a baby at home...

I understood about the age difference of the new moms vs. the "experienced" moms - it is hard to find friends sharing the same lifepoint at times. And then she told me. She has cancer. I looked at her - daring to imagine how hard it has to be. I asked her and no - she hasn't been here long enough to build up a support network of friends, neighbors or church to help her. I remember when we moved 14 years ago and it took me a winter of sulking and missing my friends from "home" before I was ready to meet new people. My attachments grew mostly through my children and schools - how would I have done without these connections. My heart broke for her. She needs an insta-friend kit and they don't make them. Friendship develops with shared experiences and lives. I took her name and number hoping I could come up with some ideas for support. She is a kind woman undergoing the most trying of situations. I find myself wondering how to offer her support and especially hope not to disappoint her. I checked and she doesn't knit... thought that might be a network. Now she has started chemo and can't go out as her white cell count is low. I have talked to her a couple of times by phone and her hair is starting to fall out. I made her a hat. Sarah is my reluctant model. I made it with my favorite alpaca in a soft shade of blue. I hope she likes it and feels cared for - even if just a little bit.

catch up

January has certainly been interesting. I've been catching up on knitting projects. The felted slippers were a hit at Christmas (never mind the daughter still waiting for hers). I've been throwing together remainder yarn for a big felted bag - should be interesting. I start teaching next week. I have 24 kids signed up for my class, "The Power of Art, How to Find Your Inner Voice" I'm terrible excited about it. The school is designed for arty students and I can design the class as I want. I'd love to go to this school myself.

My traveling girl loved Berlin. She was fascinated with the art scene and I was struck by her very "being" in East Berlin. Makes me hopeful for change in our existing world. Chilly girl in St. Paul is having fun playing basketball and planning our trip to visit Lauren in Madrid. My shiny new passport arrived (my first one). It makes me feel worldly - in my decidely non-worldly life.