Friday, October 22, 2010

Autumn and change

This is the third time I have written the following words…

This is the third week in October, and I am excited and scared. This is the season of change for me, because I quit my job effective in 6 days. I have tickets for a plane trip down to San Diego, my hometown, for the next month. The goal is to close my mother’s estate. My mother passed away 4 years ago and between my brother and I we haven’t been able to close her house up and give away her possessions.

Let me tell you a little about my mother. She was a short, large woman if you get my drift. She was a Montessori teacher, she had a huge classroom worth of material plus she had inherited her Mentor’s materials too. She was multicraftual too. Where do you think I got those genes? She sewed, beaded, embroidered, crocheted and knit.

Shortly after my mother passed away I was cleaning out my mother’s clothes and I found a full length (even for me at 5 foot 8 inches) Icelandic coat. I had found my mother’s Magnum opus. I didn’t know she knew how to knit until I found this sweater. I vaguely remember her knitting it now.
I was excited to find it and I wore it to knitting group. I wore it with pride even though it liked I had a hunch back. I hope this will block out when I get a chance. But what made me giggle the most was the epitome of my mother.














That would be a safety pin holding some of the under arm stitches.
My mother sewed the dress she wore to my brother’s wedding. She pinned the buttons on because she didn’t ‘have time’ to sew them on.

But these issues are all forgiven when the end product is this gorgeous!
















So think of all the things in your life you have started - did you finish them as well as you could?

Did you leave something undone that you can finish with help, with doing something new, with challenging yourself?

It doesn’t have to be drastic like quitting your job and moving to a new state even for a little time, but try something new, finish your projects whatever they are as if they were all your Magnum Opus.

Wish me luck, I'm going to finish closing my mother's house, with some help from my brother and cousins, and try something new, and challenge myself to get it done this year.

2 comments:

  1. Power to you girl!

    I don't look forward to the days when I'm faced with those decisions. I joke to my mom now that she better start getting rid of her crap because all I want is her sewing machine. It's of course a joke and my way of not facing the reality. I would rather have her around forever, but I know that's not how the story will end.

    It takes a lot of strength to face an estate with years of memories. And it sounds like you'll have a lot of love and support.

    We'll be thinking of you as our needles click away on Wednesday nights. Think of them as a small army backing you on your journey.

    Life is becoming evermore precious as I see loved ones around me whither or disappear. I'll take your advice, embrace it and knit like there's no tomorrow.

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  2. That is an AMAZING coat. So elegant. What a wonderful thing to find that your mom made. Wear it with pride!

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