I went back and forth many times on whether to include this story... but sharing sad along with happy is how we grow. This project was near and dear to my heart.
In middle school I became friends with a girl whose father was in the military at our local base. So we only had about 3 years together before he was stationed elsewhere. We were like 2 peas in a pod. She moved away and we stayed pen pals. I was even able to spend part of a summer in high school with her family in South Carolina. Email and facebook definitely kept us connected. It was a friendship that even though we only actually talked on the phone every 2 or 3 years, it was like “yesterday” we had just seen each other.
In 2001 when I lost my husband of 25 years (my high school sweetheart) and my mother a week apart, I was devasted and called her at an ungodly hour. Her first statement… do you NEED me there, I will be on the first plane out. At this time she was also married and living in Louisana. I said no, just needed to hear your voice. She was such a rock for me then. And when things calmed down, I did make and send a variety of gifts for her with Alabama fabric, she was a true “roll tide” fan.
Fast forward a some years and she posted a picture of a peppermint swirl crochet afghan she had fallen in love with. But she did not crochet. I also liked it so I saved the picture. It wasn’t too long after that she was diagnosed with cancer. I knew I HAD to make that afghan for her. I finally found the written pattern instructions but it was like a foreign language. So after searching so many you tube videos I FOUND IT! A step by step one and I put that video on pause so many times learning the blocks. I spent every minute I could making this, my fingers were so sore, but it HAD to be done as soon as I could get it done.
Mailed it off (it was a surprise) and she soon posted it on facebook, she was so happy and it gave her warmth and comfort during her chemo sessions. Alas she did lose her battle, she fought long and hard, she is among the angels. She will always be one of my angels
peppermint swirl lap afghan.jpg
And now to try and lighten the sharing mood… My dad loved to sit on couch, turn on tv, lean back and eat his dinner. After numerous food stains, he was not always good about tossing a towel over his santa claus belly, I said (jokingly)… one more stain and I am going to make you a bib. He said well then go ahead… oh dear, did my ears just hear a dare! And since he did afterall give me the go ahead, he would HAVE to try it. While he was away in Tenn that summer I took one of favorite (stained up) shirts and made sure I had good overage with the bib, had it waiting for him when returned. First time he plopped down on couch with food, I gave him his present. Of course to ensure it would be hard not to like, I used the Universtity of Tenn fabric. He was a little surprised I actually made him one.... And he loved it. He even said… you know you should order another one of those deer panels and cut a bib out of that for Van.
papa bib.jpeg
And then when life changed and his couch was replaced with the wheel chair, he would prop up his leg up on bed, turn on tv and turn into a sleepy bobble head. So with an overstuffed travel pillow I could at least protect the backward whiplash movement. He used it OFTEN!
IMG_0354.JPG
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the love and support I have received. This was a journey that I am glad that I took. At times I was in tears with the memories I was sharing, but it also brought back so many happy ones too.
Thank you Barb for noticing me sitting in the back of forum room with my hand ever so slightly raised for the call to share! Sharing really was good for this ole soul.
In middle school I became friends with a girl whose father was in the military at our local base. So we only had about 3 years together before he was stationed elsewhere. We were like 2 peas in a pod. She moved away and we stayed pen pals. I was even able to spend part of a summer in high school with her family in South Carolina. Email and facebook definitely kept us connected. It was a friendship that even though we only actually talked on the phone every 2 or 3 years, it was like “yesterday” we had just seen each other.
In 2001 when I lost my husband of 25 years (my high school sweetheart) and my mother a week apart, I was devasted and called her at an ungodly hour. Her first statement… do you NEED me there, I will be on the first plane out. At this time she was also married and living in Louisana. I said no, just needed to hear your voice. She was such a rock for me then. And when things calmed down, I did make and send a variety of gifts for her with Alabama fabric, she was a true “roll tide” fan.
Fast forward a some years and she posted a picture of a peppermint swirl crochet afghan she had fallen in love with. But she did not crochet. I also liked it so I saved the picture. It wasn’t too long after that she was diagnosed with cancer. I knew I HAD to make that afghan for her. I finally found the written pattern instructions but it was like a foreign language. So after searching so many you tube videos I FOUND IT! A step by step one and I put that video on pause so many times learning the blocks. I spent every minute I could making this, my fingers were so sore, but it HAD to be done as soon as I could get it done.
Mailed it off (it was a surprise) and she soon posted it on facebook, she was so happy and it gave her warmth and comfort during her chemo sessions. Alas she did lose her battle, she fought long and hard, she is among the angels. She will always be one of my angels
peppermint swirl lap afghan.jpg
And now to try and lighten the sharing mood… My dad loved to sit on couch, turn on tv, lean back and eat his dinner. After numerous food stains, he was not always good about tossing a towel over his santa claus belly, I said (jokingly)… one more stain and I am going to make you a bib. He said well then go ahead… oh dear, did my ears just hear a dare! And since he did afterall give me the go ahead, he would HAVE to try it. While he was away in Tenn that summer I took one of favorite (stained up) shirts and made sure I had good overage with the bib, had it waiting for him when returned. First time he plopped down on couch with food, I gave him his present. Of course to ensure it would be hard not to like, I used the Universtity of Tenn fabric. He was a little surprised I actually made him one.... And he loved it. He even said… you know you should order another one of those deer panels and cut a bib out of that for Van.
papa bib.jpeg
And then when life changed and his couch was replaced with the wheel chair, he would prop up his leg up on bed, turn on tv and turn into a sleepy bobble head. So with an overstuffed travel pillow I could at least protect the backward whiplash movement. He used it OFTEN!
IMG_0354.JPG
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the love and support I have received. This was a journey that I am glad that I took. At times I was in tears with the memories I was sharing, but it also brought back so many happy ones too.
Thank you Barb for noticing me sitting in the back of forum room with my hand ever so slightly raised for the call to share! Sharing really was good for this ole soul.
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