Late last week we were contacted about getting the assessment for what I'm facing ahead of me. Since I had been slowly getting the rest of the warp I'd left on the loom ready, I managed to get it sleyed and tied on over the weekend. This morning I prepped the warping draft for tea towels, and I'm hoping to take the therapist down to the studio to see what it is I used to be able to do. If I can at least weave, that will go towards feeling like I'm 'normal'.
Face it, I have done a lot of different weaves over the years. And I am pretty sure I can do at least simple things, if nothing else.
My 'voice' still fails me. I suspect it will keep me from teaching in person, remotely.
I have heard conservatively about two years to...recover...and face it, I may never to make it to where I was before. OTOH, several medical folk are telling me I've been very lucky, so who knows?
Did I have more I wanted to do? I'm sure that I did. I'd just engaged to write some articles. But do I 'need' to? Who knows? (At least those two got done - can I do more now? Dunno.)
For all the health challenges I've experienced - cardio stents, living with cancer, triple by-pass, more cancer (the type of cancer I have doesn't just go 'away' - usually), then damage to my lower spine etc., well, I truly thought I didn't deserve any more physical ailments.
Apparently not.
Maybe it is well and truly time to 'retire'.
I hope not.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you can still weave, I do not see the need to "retire". But entirely up to you.
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteIf you define 'retirement' as not weaving anymore - time will tell. You so very much want to weave, you'll find a way. Even in small amounts.
But retirement doesn't mean 'shut your brain down'. All your knowledge and experience is still there!
I finally prepared the Canadian Snowflake pattern from your blog. I got the yarn, calculated the width and the threads and which setts I want to swatch. I read your post again. And you explained how you transferred the 8shaft pattern into an 4 shaft pattern. And recommended Bonnie Inouye's book.
Long story short: I got the book and I'm working and weaving my way through the lessons. It's exactly what I was looking for at this moment in my learning-to-weave journey!
I would've never found that book on my own. I needed your knowledge and willingness to share that knowledge!
And yes, the Snowflake will be the next project.
Please, keep your faith. Our prayers go out to you.
Kathrin
I say do what you feel up to doing! Never say never. Rest if you feel like it, weave if you feel like it, it’s your life, your body, and no one knows how strong (or not) you feel except you! Lots of love, admiration and respect sent your way. Bettie Shea
ReplyDeleteYou are so clearly insightful, introspective, and thoughtful, and I have no doubt that you will be able to make the best decisions for how you spend your time. Even if you do decide to retire from public-facing weaving and teaching, I hope that you continue to find ways to exercise your tremendous creativity and make meaning. I'm still young, but I think most of us are never "done." There's always more we could do, always more we could create or more joy we can find.
ReplyDelete