Thankful Thursday

Last night fifty or more women met to hear the author Ann Hood give a talk about her book THE KNITTING CIRCLE. What had brought me there was as important as the beautiful talk that Ann gave. One of the things that she said, which really struck a cord was that we are all in this dance of life together. I immediately felt that she had just defined the waves of energy in that room. As we listened, each one of us could relate on some level, connecting us in a rhythm that was undeniable.



A few weeks ago when I took the Altered Book Class, I sat next to this lovely woman named Joyce. Over the course of the hour or so we were in class, we discovered how much we had in common including blogging. Joyce writes a blog called Nana's Space, and is a grandmother to three gorgeous children. It turned out that we had both visited each other's blogs and we both adored Tasha Tudor, and the path to finding a new chapter. We both love the book IN THIS HOUSE and were connected by a their group on Yahoo. Ironic that we were altering books in class, because I sensed that is what our lives are right now...we are altering our book, our story and our purpose in life.



Joyce is a photographer for the Worcester center for crafts. I got an e-mail inviting me to come to the center last night, and she would give me a tour. The place was spectacular, offering classes in everything from glass, enameling, fiber arts, photography and pottery just to name a few. After the tour, women started arriving to hear Ann Hood's talk. Although I do not knit, I was interested in the book. The group was so large that we all moved into the entrance corridor.



Ann was hysterical and her ability to tell a story had us all listening intently to every word. Such a bright articulate speaker with so much animation in her gestures that she had you falling off your chair in bouts of laughter. Then she told us why she had written the book, her little girl had died and she had started knitting to heal. Her book is a novel based on her own painful journey through grief and the discovery of how working with our hands and connecting with a circle of other women heals us on many levels. When she finished speaking, we all lined up to have our books signed. I knew that it wasn't a coincidence that I was there.



Afterward Joyce and I talked some more and helped put away the chairs. We are both altering our book of life to meet this new and exciting chapter. Rediscovering who we are through art, our gifts, blogging and the women we connect with within this glorious adventure of sharing other women's stories. I thanked her and we plan on meeting next week again to paint together.



On the drive home I thought about the events that had occurred. God had knit Joyce and I together as Karen had given us the pattern in class. Then Joyce added Ann Hood and the wonderful art center to my story. It seemed to me as I sat there amongst so many women, with so many stories, so many patterns in their lives, yet we all danced in joy as this wonderful woman told us stories. During the course of the evening, by sharing her own story, she had knit all of our stories together and helped each of us deal with our own loss.



Today is Thankful Thursday, and Rhondi from Rhondi's Rose Colored Glasses hosts this mindful occasion. So, please visit Rhondi and the many Thankful Thursday posts. Today I am so grateful to have met Joyce and for receiving her generous invitation.



Ann Hood is right, we are all in this dance together and when the energy in a room or in a group of bloggers is evident, we are in perfect harmony and life is easier. I started reading The Knitting Circle last night, and plan on reading more today. Thank you Karen for introducing me to Joyce. Thank you Joyce for introducing me to such a noteworthy evening. Rhondi from Rhondi's Rose Colored Glasses has many people writing today about what they are thankful for, so please stop by.





The song for this post is The Circle of Friends. The yarn decorating my post is from my sister, Susan's blog, One Knit One Purl. She knits amazing things and I have learned many things from her. When we meet at Thanksgiving she promised to show me how she needle felts.