Autumn Sock or Scarf Swap 2008

Hello Ravelry Members!

Look at what my swap partner sent to me! It was so nice to open the box and just pull out goodie after goodie. I plan on making some lace with the red and/or blue yarn. A pretty washcloth is already on the forefront of my mind. I will likely hold off on the muling spices until the weather gets really cold. It will help me look forward to that time (if anyone can really look forward to 7-8 months of cold!)

Thank you again, Cathy, for the wonderful gifts. It has been a pleasure corresponding with you and look forward to meeting up with you again on Ravelry.

Posie.

MSA

Yesterday, I spent most of the day worrying and a part of the day in the hospital. My brother-in-law has multiple systems atrophy. It is a terminal form of MS that has an element of dimentia. He had two very severe seizures Tuesday night that set him back noticeably. His personality is changing. He and my sister have two elementary aged kids. She is in the slow process of losing her partner and the kids a father. I am so sad that it hurts. There is very little in the way of support for this family because of the age of my brother-in-law (51). There is enough help out there for elder people, but not for this type of illness/age group. She has her church family, her friends, and of course, her family. But not much in the way of other people who are simultaneously dealing with this disease. And as for my brother-in-law, I can't imagine the loneliness that he must feel.

I am sorry to post such a dark message on Valentines Day, the day of love, but I wanted to also talk about how I have observed my sister and her husband's love grow in spite of MSA. It has deepened. There is much more sharing and much more raw, unthreatened, uncompromised affection. There is more flexibility and understanding of needs. I am so in awe.
P.

Emily - My Daughter, My Sun

Today is Emily's birthday. The day that she turns 18. The day that she is recognized as an adult. I am filled with so many different emotions. I suspect that she is too. On this day, 18 years ago, my life changed forever. Emily's rich, beautiful personality entered into my life. One woman who admired Emily during our first outing together said that it would be a "total love affair." She was right. It has been and it is.

I write today not as a "goodbye" to Emily, but as a "thank you" and a "hello." Emily, thank you for pulling me from within myself. Time and time again, you reached out and got me to focus on something that was not within me. Time and time again, you pulled me to be part of what you were doing. You communicate with me, you share with me and you trust me. I have felt this from the start and have benefited from it more than I can tell you. Thank you for your humor during periods where there was not much to laugh about. Thank you for the love that you give to your brother and the care that you have always taken of him. Thank you for realizing that family has many different forms and for welcoming Mike into your life. Thank you for your compassion and the respect that you show to others in your life.

And, hello my Emily. Hello to you as an adult. As you reach out for what life has to offer you, your insight and intelligence will serve you well. You will have experiences that will separate you from me and others, but you will also have experiences that illustrate our commonalities. Have fun, keep your core within easy reach, and know that my love for you will not falter. I will be here for you if and when needed.

Happy 18th birthday. Love, Mom

Lots, lots and more lots going on!

Well, it has been a long time hasn't it? Lots of lots going on. Knitting is going well. I will be posting projects that I have been working on and projects that are completed shortly. My Mom gave (yes...gave!) me her camera, so I now have a decent method to photograph what I have been doing. I set a very ambitious goal for Christmas. Socks for all of our children (his and mine = 6) and several friends. I also knit a baby sweater, handwarmers and two hats. I started all of this during the month of October, plus a sweater. I am not done with the sweater - I had to rip it, rip it, rip it because the back turned out to be soooo big. Bummer, but what are ya gonna do? All of this knitting is making my hands and my wrists hurt. Apparently, I am a "picker." I need to be more aware of how tight I am holding my needles. I think that I am gripping as if my life depended on it. RELAX....yeah, right.

On the home front, my daughter turns 18 next week. I was signing forms for this school semester for her last night and I realized that these were probably the last forms that I would be required to sign. Wow. When did that happen? How? I will be posting for her birthday next week. My thoughts are a jumble right now, hopefully, I will get them together enough to communicate. What a journey.

Late night knit night tonight at Sow's Ear! I always love that. Also, daughter and I will be mainlining CSI Las Vegas. Really, really looking forward to the weekend.

Hope your's is great. Speak with you soon. P.