Do you live within the New York City area?

I am on Long Island and am wondering if anyone else has noticed something …… The Channel 11 News Team. Am I turning into an old fart, or do these people look like they all just came from, or are on their way to, a singles’ bar? Do you get the same feeling I do – that none of them really care about the news as much as they care about getting laid?

*note – by using the crude term ‘laid’ I am proving that I am not an old fart. Old farts seldom curse, and old lady farts rarely, if ever use base language. Ergo, I am au courrant, and my thesis stands….. if I am not an old fart, then these people are just looking for a piece of … ahem … ass.

In 1985 I graduated from college. Big things were about to happen in my life – within the next five years I would be married, have two children and bury my mother. Although I was 27 and a mother myself, I think we are all too young to lose our parents.

But in 1985 I had no way of knowing any of this. (except the marriage part, I had a hunch the Boar would pop the question). That Christmas, my mother gave me a copy of The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg. She wrapped it up along with a silver jingle bell.

If you don’t own this book, you should. It is all about the magic, beauty and mystery of belief – the illustrations are gorgeous. Officially, it is childrens’ literature, but it is so much more than that.

Anyone who has lost a loved one understands the difficulties of the holidays. So much has been written and said on the subject that I won’t presume to say it any better. My own experience was that for many years it was extremely difficult. More difficult than I allowed myself to say. It did get incrementally easier as the years passed – did time mellow the edge? I really don’t know – people I speak with all have different experiences. For me one thing is true – having these memories helped.

Every year the bell hangs on my Christmas tree and the book is on my coffee table. This year I am looking forward to future Christmas tradition – The Polar Express movie. It often happens that I am disappointed by the movie after reading the book, and I do think Hollywood screws with the classics too much (witness The Grinch). That being said, I have seen the trailer for this movie and it looks fantastic …

The Daughters have never been enthusiastic about my knitting. I will offer to make them different things and they will reply – ‘I like it, but don’t think I would wear it”. They tell me their school is too hot for handknits, that the pattern isn’t something they would wear, that they don’t want me to waste my time on a maybe.

I try not to take this personally.

Yesterday there was a dawning.

I am torn. On one had I am elated, Daughter #2 has asked me to knit her something ….. at last, she sees my talent, my usefulness, that I am not an old fuddy-duddy. Mom is cool & happening – Mom is now.

On the other hand, Daughter #2 ( my 14 year old) has discovered that knitting can been sexy. This cannot be a good thing. She is already sexy enough for my taste …. do I enlist myself in her efforts to be sexier still???

why God, why? Why did I ever show her that pattern? what was I thinking?? So I will indeed knit her a Boobholder, knowing all the while it will be my own personal Hair Shirt.

Hallowig said the spider to the Hallowig …… here is a progress picture. I cast on yesterday afternoon and am almost to the initial 6.5″. I am not completely thrilled with the yarn it is a worsted by Red Heart and the color is Venice. I had wanted something with a bit more pizazz …. but it was in the stash and I can always knit another! go and see what everyone else is up to!