stitch away
Long ago, and far away, in a land distant from our home in Alaska, there was a Christmas when Judi was doing her usual-- trying to make unique and personally crafted presents for those she loved. When the sewing and stitching were going to take longer than the days betwixt the current day and Christmas Eve, she turned to Bill, huddled over his latest model building project, and said something to the effect of "Hey, you with the delicate fingers, how about giving a hand with making these ornaments for this year's tree?" So I picked up the needlepoint pattern, and began the stitching.
And there began the rest of a lifetime of the hobby that still consumes the man she left behind. Thirty or so years of needelpoint and cross stitch that began that night have been one of the things that continue to remind me how much I love that lady. Today, I finished a piece that started seven years ago. Progress was interrupted by our time in Germany, and then by a pair of pieces that came from a trip to Denmark in those same two years. But the real progress on the stitchery came as I sat and shed silent tears for the lady who got it all started so many years ago. Thank you, Judi, for giving me the kick to get started, and the patience to let me continue.