Back Again

Here I thought I was going to be posting more often.

Ha! So much for best laid plans...

Since you last read this blog, a number of events have occurred - some good, others not so good. Let's start on a happy note and talk about knitting.

Our guild hosted Gayle Roehm who spoke about Japanese knitting and designers.



I think it's fascinating to see what others are doing on the other side of the globe. Her talk was another example how knitting connects us - no matter where we live.

On another knitting note, I have a couple of finished items. OK - not totally finished because I haven't blocked them yet. That won't happen for a couple of weeks. Photos to follow soon.

The sad event was the passing of DH's father, Cecil, early last week. The silver lining that eases our loss is that he lived a full, active life, just recently celebrating his 80th birthday with family and friends. He died as I can only hope I will - at home, in his own bed, in his sleep.

He was an activist and a minister in the Methodist church, serving in the Philippines, Illinois, Tennessee, Kansas and Wisconsin. He protested against government action he didn't agree with - including the Vietnam war, US involvement in Nicaragua, and both Gulf wars and nearly every year at Fort Benning. He tried to speak truth to power and was sometimes targeted for his views. In Kansas, a sickle and hammer were painted on their house and his car tires were slashed. He wanted those who believe in the teachings of Christ to actually follow those teachings - to help and serve those in our society who are disenfranchised, poor, and outcast, to treat creation with respect and to act as true stewards in conservation and ecological matters. He was a loving and involved father and grandfather.

To me, the following words epitomize his life - "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." — Hélder Câmara

A favorite quote he used often came from his favorite hymn, God of Grace and God of Glory - "Save us from weak resignation from the evils we deplore." He lived his life, doing his best to avoid falling into a state of weak resignation.

He left quite a legacy of lives he touched while among us and he will be sorely missed.