Petunia rambles on and on….

Skype is a really great thing.  In this Computer Age, I’m still amazed by some of this technology.  Having started out 40 years ago as a telephone operator on an old switchboard with cords like this – uh, exactly like this

and spent several years as an overseas LongLines operator where calls went from country to country, and by the time you got halfway to the destination country, the transmission was so poor that no one could hear anything, the fact that I just spent over an hour talking to my friend Sally in Australia still amazes me!  And we did it over the computer  (which we didn’t have back when I was on that cord board!)

The Great Move has taken place and daughter, husband and her twin sons are settling in at their new home.  This is as it should be.  This is best for her and for the boys.  She has a good man by her side.  These thoughts keep running through my head.  As I drive home from work, passing the Day Care Center where the boys aren’t.  No sleepy, cuddly fellow on my lap early in the morning.  The peace and quiet is lovely.   Except there’s so much of it.   It’s not broken by crying, or whining, or giggling.

All of life is a balance, pluses and minuses, ups and downs, good and bad.  A mixture.  At different moments, different moods, I’m alternating between glad, hopeful for a different future for Pop and I, or miserable.

Sally and I had an hour’s chat, a great diversion.  So much better than a private weepy time.  Thank you, friend, for being there.  We talked about family – mine, hers, relatives young and old.   And we talked about knitting.

And damn it – I forgot to tell her

I joined The Knitting Guild Association.  I’ve looked at the site before, thought some of the correspondence courses looked interesting, but never actually did anything about it.  One of the things I’ve learned in the last few years that I’ve been actively reading many knitting/fiber sites is just exactly how much I don’t know.  Hey, I learned what Mom taught me as a small child.   Since my re-acquaintaince with knitting over the last few years, I’ve finally done so many new things, lace, socks – and found out so much that I didn’t know.    I just confessed to Sally that I once told a co-worker, happily knitting in the English method, that she was doing it wrong.  Oh, the embarassment.  The SHAME!!!    Hell, I didn’t know.  Through all the years I had very little contact with any other knitters, so I didn’t know how little I knew.   So here I am, in my “senior years” finding out how much there is still to learn  – and I’m loving it.

Two things caused me to finally join.  No, maybe three.

• There is talk of forming a local guild chapter here in Central Delaware.  There are several chapters upstate, an hour away.  They have evening meetings.  I can’t drive those distances at night.  There’s one in southern Delaware and they meet in the mornings, when I’m working.   I heard about this on Ravelry and then realized that I knew one of the women quite well.  We used to work for the same company, and then later, she was very into sewing and embroidery when I was.  If this Guild is going to happen, I’d like to be involved in it from the beginning.  I’ve had little direct contact with other knitters, and I’d welcome that.
• I read about their correspondence courses, where submissions are sent in and critiques mailed back.  I’ve spent 40 years thinking I’m a pretty good knitter.  Maybe I really suck at it.  Maybe I need to find out?   This would give me the opportunity to get an unbiased opinion of the work I do (Mom always thought it was great, but……)  There’s probably a whole lot out there to learn that I don’t even know about yet - I’m interested in finding out about it.
• And I think, perhaps, I’m looking for something to focus on, so I don’t keep looking down the hall for the boys.

So I joined the Association, and ordered the “Basics, Basics, Basics” course, to see if I need improvement (and specifically where?) and to get the benefit of the professional critique.   I doubt I’ll get much, if anything, done with it until after the holidays, but it’ll be something to look forward to, and that’s what I need right now.

I love this book, for so many reasons.

http://www.dooce.com/daily-style/2008/12/02/vintage-childrens-books

As far as I know, though, it was not the reason for my childhood nickname.  I have my older brothers to thank for that, and I’m not sure how it got started.  Some corruption of Patricia, I’ve always thought. 

When it comes to older brothers, I was just so glad that each time they took me crabbing, they didn’t use me for bait.  They were always so pleased to have me along.  I stayed on my best behavior when we were around water, crab traps or sharp knives.

And for Dentist, but I don’t have to think of that until the 18th.

And for Dog, who sleeps at my feet; what a loving soul she is.  Nobody that knows her is buying that, huh?  Truth?  She’s a pain in the ass and when she’s at my feet, she farts a lot.  Those ones that almost knock you off the couch. And I trip over her a few times every day.  Damned black dog in a dark corner.

D is for Double, as in Two, as in Twins.  Double the trouble, double the mess, double the noise, double the toys, double the love, double the pride, double the fun and silliness, double the heartbreak when they must leave.  And soon, they must.  I know that.  They must.

But it’s like having your heart ripped out.  And then ripped out again.  Twice.