On another note, I visited with an elderly woman today who got such joy telling me how much she loved sewing. She started to tear up. When I asked her what was wrong she said "do they let you bring your sewing machine to the nursing home?" Oh my goodness, I sat down at her bedside and we shared tears together for a lifelong love of sewing and I could only imagine what it would be like to have to face this phase in life. Not only to have to give up her independence, which she understood was time, but to have to also give up her deep love of creating through needle and thread was too much to bare.
I understood at the deepest resources of my soul as I've been sewing 43 years; nothing compared to her nearly 80 years of the craft. Imagine how that would tear at you and more importantly this question showed how deeply sewing was a part of who she was...a lifeline of sorts. And although I love knitting as much, imagine not being allowed to move your beloved yarn through your fingers and onto the needles, creating an original garment for yourself or a loved one. Our love of craft is a component of who we are, so very deep that we must not take it for granted.
So whether you are a knitter, quilter, seamstress, cross stitcher or whatever medium you choose to create with, enjoy every minute not just the completed project. As one day, we may all be faced with not being able to take our most prized possessions with us and how terrible a life that would be.
Of course, in the end, I reassured her that yes you can take your sewing machine to the nursing home. An immediate calm came over her small, wrinkled, tear streaked face and for that brief moment, our souls connected and I felt that, indeed, I made a small difference in someone's life. That connection is what life is all about and I hope I can continue telling old ladies that yes, you can take it with you.
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