Knitting Among Friends

Oh yes, I've taken up a new hobby.  It's something that I have always dreamed of mastering.  I had tried before, given up and then tried again--to no avail.  This time, however, it's different.  Everything about it is so much more fun.  It clicked.  No pun intended. 

I think the key is starting out with a bunch of fun friends.  Throw in some coffee and you've got yourself a little party. 

It all began this past summer when I found out that one of my friends knitted.  And I mean knitted.  As in sweaters, etc.  So, I swooped in and begged her to teach me.  Really teach me.  Fortunately for me, she has the patience of a saint.  As I struggled through my knits and purls she gently guided me and low and behold--I learned to knit.

I then, oh so sneakily, cajoled her into teaching several others.  This is where I would insert a wicked emoji.  We began meeting at my house a couple of times a month.  We started out by making hats.  Lots and lots of hats.  I mean lots.  Like 20 of them.  I think pretty much everyone in my family received one.  I then progressed to knitting shawls, scarves, vests and a few other items.  I was on a roll.  Get it?  A ball of yarn?  Pun intended.  

Yep, I fell in love with knitting.  It's now an addiction.  I have to go into every yarn shop I see.  I have to have future projects planned.  I have to knit every evening while watching TV.  And I even take it with me to the strangest places.  I just want to knit.  It's crazy.  I find myself thinking--I could be knitting right now!  It doesn't really matter where I am--I could be knitting!  Church, friend's homes, playing canasta--I could be knitting.  I really want to take my knitting to meetings with me but don't want to get kicked out or chastised so I leave it at home.  However, I'm thinking about knitting!  Addicted?  I think so!

We eventually decided to make this obsession of mine into an activity within our club.  I mean--why not?  We meet at my home, knit, share stories, laugh, drink coffee and then we all go to lunch at the local Mexican restaurant.  It's a great day.  What's not to love?  Knitting, friends, and lunch?

It's open to everyone interested in knitting.  I hope we never get tired of each other.  We are having so much fun.  We are bonding over a shared interest.  And we are becoming closer friends. 

Want a hat?

Oh My Aching Knee

I guess there comes a point where you just have to stop whining.  You have to be brave, bite the bullet and do it.  That's what I'm going to do.  I don't have a choice really.  I can't walk.  So there's that. 

I first tore my knee up about 10 years ago, had arthroscopic surgery to repair a bunch of junk and hobbled away, believing that it would get better.  Better--is a very subjective word.  Better in what sense?  I'll have to think about that a bit.  I guess it was better.  I could walk better, and I didn't have to take too much in the way of pain relief meds.

I blame the ice up here in Northeast Ohio.  I think I fell 5 times in the first 5 years of living here.  The last time was a doozy.  Snap, crackle, and pop went my knee.  I knew.  I just knew.  Surgery would be in my future.  I had hoped that my knee from there on out would be amazing.  It was not.  And now, just a mere 10 years or so later I am facing a knee replacement.

You see I hate pain.  Hate it.  Absolutely hate it.  I am a big fat chicken with a capital C.  If I could I would run as far away from this surgery as my short little legs would take me.  But, I can't.  I can't even walk fast.  In fact, I can't even walk around the block any longer.  I guess I'll have to hobble.  I think they'll catch me though. 

So, in just a couple of weeks, I'll go into the hospital and have a full-blown knee replacement.  Ugg

I'll be there for approximately 2-3 days, and then head on home with lots of pain meds, a walker, a cane and a husband as my nurse.  Oh, joy. 

As you can tell, I am not up for this little excursion.  Not even a little bit. 

I am hoping and praying that once the healing has commenced, once the swelling is down, once the fear has subsided--I'll be as good as new.  I'll be able to walk, hike, ride my bike and travel again.  The flowers will smell sweeter, the blue skies will be bluer, and life will be as it was before all the knee pain stuff.  Is that too much to hope for?  I sure hope not.

So, if you think of me, please pray.  Pray firstly for peace of mind, and then for zero to no pain as I convalesce.  Wouldn't that be awesome?   That's what I'm praying for!  I need to get rid of this stupid aching knee!

My plans during my recuperation are to pray a lot, watch TV, knit tons of fun stuff, play on my computer, hug my dog and sleep.  I wonder which if any will be accomplished.  I've heard those pain meds can keep one pretty loopy.  I like loopy though, so I think I just might be OK.