This past year has been full of ups and downs for me.
I’ll start with the downs, well actually only one major down and let’s hope it stays that way during these last couple of months of 2023.
My mother – who had been in assisted living with dementia for about five years – spiraled downhill late last year, and she passed away peacefully in the early hours of June 24th. It was heart-breaking to see her go from being the vibrant, independent and strong person I had known all my life to the woman who was unable to do even the simplest tasks. I’m thankful that she continued to smile until the very end. I’m also extremely thankful for the excellent care she received at her assisted living facility’s memory care ward, as well as the kindness and care she received from her hospice team.
When mom passed, my brother and I honored her wishes for cremation and scattering. My brother took half of her ashes to the mountains they used to visit together and scattered her remains in full view of a beautiful sunset.
My husband and I took the other half and took her out to sea, thanks to some close friends who offered to take us out on their boat, and we released her into the ocean.
The bittersweet event did not escape the notice of a number of frolicking dolphins who welcomed mom as if at a party! As we boated away from the location where we left the urn drift away, dolphins appeared and performed full breaches in the area! One dolphin even performed a fancy flip for us! It was amazing, and tears of both sadness and joy streamed down my face. We spotted lots of dolphins as we headed back to the marina and mom would have been absolutely delighted by them!
But there were also lots of ups. My husband and I love to travel when we have the opportunities and this year, we have been blessed to have been able to take a bit of time off to visit Cape Cod in May, and then Orlando, Florida followed by Gatlinburg, Tennessee, during September.
Other ups involved our friendships. We believe in being intentional when it comes to building up friendships and we are very fortunate to have lasting friendships which originated in church small groups. We have been in one particular small group – our “life group” – for about 10 years, and although the group “members” have changed a bit over the years (mostly due to moves), we are friends now who are like family. Sometimes we are like a dysfunctional family, but we have stuck together and have walked through some challenges and struggles together, as well as through many joyous events.
Finally, as you probably realize, I get to go to my mostly stressful day job and then come home to a warm and peaceful home which is filled with YARN that needs to be crafted into something whimsical. I’m so very thankful for my crochet skills which I originally learned as a young girl. My grandmother taught me to crochet, and over the decades I have been able to hone the skills to make fun, whimsical things, and – in turn – I get to set up a tent and sell them at craft festivals. Even though actual “selling” and “buying” are the points of these festivals, most of my joy comes from having people stop by and enjoying what I’ve made. Yeah, I get it, not everyone buys “stuff.” I’m the same way. I love walking through festivals and seeing all the things talented crafters make, but I am really not much of a spender. At Newport News Fall-O-Ween, I picked up a green glass pendant from the Artificer’s Archive and a bag of shower fizzy melts from Irene’s Essential Oils.
I’m looking forward to the Historic Hilton Village Fall Festival coming up in Newport News on October 28th, and will have to use all my time management skills (which I do NOT have, by the way) to make sure I have plenty of product for festival goers to see.
Looks like high level hooking (a.k.a. crocheting) will be happening for the next 3 weeks, and that too, my friends, is also an UP!
Be blessed!
~Kim
Hooked on Whimsy 