Going on almost 18 years ago, newly, barely sober and a firm believer then as I am now that Knitting In Public (KIP) is a fine and time honored activity that has been around and accepted for thousands!!! (did I say thousands) of years. I began to make connections with women and men who were of a similar mind.
There just are not enough hours a day sometimes to share with not knitting. Committee meetings come to mind and occasionally lectures in particular. And then of course there are the train rides and waiting in line moments as well. I met my friend Anne during one such moment in the basement of a a safe place where my eccentricities did not matter, just my desire to stop drinking were valid and my ability to sit still was deeply questioned and taxed, but I knew that my yarn would keep me engaged with other's "yarns" of how they came to believe in living one day at a time.
Sometimes they were long winded, sometimes they were short, pithy, to the point that would/could cause me to sit up and really hear them. It seemed as though the counter voices in my head were stilled long enough to be able to take in their voices and learn, retain some one fact that enabled me to go on another day, without mind alteration of the negative kind.
It is how I met my friend Leslie and a wonderful KIPPer, as she brought souls to yet another meeting to help them along in a new way of life. It broke the ice that melted any reservations we might have had to become the friends we are now.
Now fast forward to today if you will; and I remember how that one act of private (contemplation in a public way, rebellion, focus, not sure but I know it was all I had at that point in time) had a period of being stilled (frowned upon, just not done in "that sponsorship line")
Imagine my recent joy at finding a women's group where the act of repetition is honored, celebrated in a quiet way, welcomed not as an act of rebellion but, as an act of necessary faith that creating brings joy to others, a deeper conscious contact with the Divine and many hours of loving work by hand and heart.
For this I am eternally grateful for KIP being an ongoing part of my life. As always Blessings and a shout out to the F/friends who Enrich my life just by their presence.
