01-16-2018

This will be a prayer shawl for my Aunt Gret. She’s my mother’s only sibling. My Godmother. My namesake. She’s a very strong lady. Not tough tho. Strong. And independent. She and my Mom grew up in Cinnaminson, NJ. Aunt Gret had rheumatic fever as a young teen and has always had heart troubles, but never let it slow her down. She was a local model as a teen. Participated in local beauty pageants, too. And won. :) She was a single Mom (living in CA) after leaving an unhappy marriage in the late 70s. She raised two wonderful daughters pretty much by herself. She’s smart. And she’s friendly. She likes to meet and hang out with other people. That’s a skill my mother had too…and one I greatly admire…I’m rather shy. She lets you know what she’s thinking. She has traveled the world as a flight attendant (American Airlines) until she retired in her mid 60’s. She volunteered to take our troops overseas during the gulf war, and was proud of and really enjoyed that part of her career. (I’m pretty proud of her doing that too!) But Aunt Gret is also just an avid world traveler. She has friends all over the world. She likes to visit and learn about other places. She’s been all over the US, including Alaska and Hawaii several times. She’s been all over Europe, Britain, and to lots of tropical islands. She’s been to Australia. She’s been on safari in Africa. I wonder if she’s been to China? I wouldn’t be surprised…I will have to ask.

When my Dad died, Aunt Gret came from CA to live with my Mom in Delaware. As sisters they really couldn’t be more different. But actually so much alike, too. Funny how that happens. They traveled places. They played cards. (You didn’t want to be the team opposing those two…ruthless and amazing card players.) They were very involved in church. They ran a bed and breakfast together for a few years as well. When my Mom met and married the second love of her life (the wonderful Stan) 6 years after Dad died, Aunt Gret moved into her own place a couple towns over. They talked on the phone every day I’m pretty sure. Saw each other several times a week I know. They still were like peas and carrots.

When Mom was sick, Aunt Gret took care of her every Saturday. And lots of times when one of us couldn’t take her to an appointment Aunt Gret volunteered for that. She was very involved with helping us with Mom’s care. At the end, that last brutal week in the hospital…Aunt Gret was there. Helping Mom. Helping us.

And Now Mom’s gone. And Aunt Gret misses her so much. She has lost her lifelong best friend and only sibling. She does have a life independent of Mom. And Lots of friends. And Lots of family. And Adoring daughters. She has we 6 of Mom’s kids who love her so very much. There’s a second home in FL (for the cold months) where she is very social. And these are all good things. But it’s still a tough-shake-you-to-the-core loss for her. And like the rest of us who love Mom, she is struggling with the grief. This shawl has so many tears and thoughts and love for her (and Mom) in every stitch.

01-20-2018

Love the yarn. Loving the shawl. I see why so many have been made! Going to be my car trip crochet project. Easily memorized pattern.

01-29-2018

This morning I noticed I picked up the wrong hook yesterday. A sneaky stowaway from when I switched project bags. Grrrrr. Frogging 8 looong rows of fingering weight yarn.

Son of a biscuit.

01-31-2018

Whew. Caught back up last night with what I had frogged out. Looks much better. Under the gun a little. Sure didn’t need that frogging session. I will be seeing my Aunt two days earlier than I had planned. Yay for the longer visit tho! :)

I will be crocheting like a fiend the next 4 days and then a day of being pinned out is hopefully enough.