Say Their Name

 

two different colour ways of kitchen towels, 2/8 cotton warp, cotton flake weft

In the past two weeks (give or take a day or two), 3 of my weaving 'friends' have died.  The latest was someone I knew, not well, but respected.  I took a class from her, and took a class along with her at Banff Centre of Fine Arts.  We respected each other, although we agreed to differ in the details.  But we agreed on one thing - we loved weaving.

We didn't get together very often as she lived 500 miles away, then moved to Salt Spring Island.  But we stayed in touch.  The last time I saw her was 2019 when we did a trip over to Salt Spring Island so I could pick up another friend's silk stash.  

The other two I knew for less time, but was no less interested in them and their journeys.

As my social interactions grow fewer and fewer, I often think about the people I've met along my journey.  When I do presentations, I try to remember to mention people from whom I've learned, because I know I have not 'figured things out all by myself'.  And I feel that - as a community - we are richer for those have gone before - or beside - us, (ultimately *beyond* us) in our explorations of the endlessly (to me!) fascinating craft.

When I started weaving I was 25 years old.  At the time, the perception of weavers was 'little old ladies in running shoes'.  I chaffed at that generalization.  And now I am one of those 'little old ladies'...

My life was filled with challenges, some of which I wish I could have avoided.  But nevertheless, the obstacles appeared on my life's journey, and as my life cycle begins to wind down (not dead yet, but) there is less energy to do stuff, but no shortage of *wanting* to do more.  

Just one sample!  Just trying to figure 'this' out!  What happens if, when...?

And the people who came along with me generally tossed more questions into the mix.  Invited me to broaden my horizons.  Find things out.  Test our conclusions.  Change our minds!  

So today I have been thinking - a lot - about the people who travelled with me.  And because the time seems appropriate, I will remember the latest names.  Because somewhere I read that for so long as your name is remembered, you are not 'gone'.  

So, Carol, Pat and Diane - save a chair/bench/loom for me.  And I will think about you as I head back to the loom.  I got the warp beamed, and made a small dent in threading.  Today's goal is to see if I can finish threading (preferably without threading errors, pleaseandthankyou)

In the meantime, I have been invited to participate in an event (remotely) and after some consideration, I have decided to accept.  Once the details are confirmed I will let people know where and when, etc.  It will be a test of my ability to speak coherently, or how much I 'fail' at 'public' speaking.  :(   If it goes well, I will consider beginning to do my one or two hour remote presentations.  The surgeon said the biggest recovery from the brain bleed would happen in the first 12 months after the injury, then slower progress over the following 12 months.

It's beginning to feel very much as though if I'm going to go back to 'teaching' (remotely), I need to be doing that 'now', not wait two years after the injury to see how well I can do it.  I hope people will be kind, and understand that I do, in fact, have a brain injury, and make allowances for that.

Am I nervous?  Hell yes!  But I never did what I did in my life by letting my fear get in the way.  This event was a gift, really, because it is 'just' one hour, they will 'feed' me questions ahead of time, and IF this new medication turns out to be good, hopefully I will have more energy to do things outside of my comfort zone.

A community is not that different from a woven cloth.  It is made up of a variety of people, each bringing their unique self to the whole.  And we are all richer for it.