I am spending my Mother's Day in pajamas reflecting what my mother meant to me. I was adopted and as my mother loved to say, "Selected, not expected." I suppose that this was said to elevate my self-esteem. My mother had high expectations and while she did her best, nature often defied nurture. She struggled with who I evolved into, just as I struggle with my son's personality. I left the family nest at the unripe age of 16 and left the country at age 19. Our relationship improved across continents. We spoke on the phone almost every week and we visited one another about every other year.
I lost my mother in 2001 and no day goes by without a flicker of a memory. Although we said many things to one another, many things were left unspoken. Now that I am the mother of a teen, her frustrations are more salient. I wish I could tell her that I finally understand. Here she is in pre-Pischi days with our schnauzer, Purtzel.
Summer is quickly approaching and my spring term has finally ended. I earned high marks in all my classes and that included a well deserved "C" in algebra, a grade that I am most proud of. I was thankful for Susan and David always there to tutor my way through chapter after chapter of math problems. While spending last few weeks with my nose in the books and a pencil in hand, I was also able to work the phlebotomy clinicals in the lab at our local hospital. Of course knitting has taken a back seat but I have managed to turn out a couple of projects and I look forward to casting on several items while enjoying my freedom until the fall semester begins.
I knit the Shetland Triangle using a skein of Brooks Farm Primero scored through Ravelry. This is the second project that I have made using one of Evelyn Clark's patterns. This shawl is already on its way to Germany and will grace my aunt's shoulders during the chilly evenings. Carolyn was bribed with wine in exchange for modeling duty. See, it fits!
Also complete are the No Purl Monkey socks using Impulse of Delights merino/silk sock yarn. The colorway is called Lost Lake and evoked memories of Lake Louis in Alberta. The socks are on my feet as I write and then on their way into the wash and my sock drawer. As you can see, Dorrit is quite at home now. He rules the roost and is the first cat I owned where yarn vigilance is mandatory.
A wonderful surprise that the three items that I entered into out county fair took all the blue ribbons including Best of Show and Best of Division. The prize included a check that will help pay for a new iPod and there should be some leftover to splurge on yarn. I miss listing to podcasts since my old faithful black Nano died.
I am now ready to trade my jammies in for something motherly to attend Erik's baccalaureate. Happy Mother's Day!