Time Warp Fiber

This summer, we learned that my mother-in-law had cancer. She's high risk, and so they operated immediately. The shock and trauma, as you might imagine, were awful. It's particularly hard to be 3000 miles away while all this is happening. It's easy to sink into despair, and so my goal, my mission, was to do something to make her smile. I'm a knitter, i think you know what I turned to. I had made the titbit pattern before, as silly gifts for buddies, but this is the first time I've really put it to use. I brought the idea up, half-joking, to gauge her reaction. A laugh. Bingo, exactly what is required. So in two weeks, I whipped up a pair out of the softest cotton yarn ever made. I put an old eyebrow ring through one of the nipples, seemed appropriate. I packed them in a box with lots of chocolate, tea, and other goodies. I waited nervously, checking the UPS tracker. When she finally did get them, I was relieved. Not despair, but giggles. She showed her friends her pierced nipple. She showed the doctor. They reduced her pain medication dramatically, and soothed some other pain as well, I hope. I sent another set, with all manner of other goodies. And this past month, when hysterectomy followed fast on the heels of mastectomy, I figured another replacement was in order. See above. Knitty, you rock. More giggles. She sent cell phone photos to family, who pulled over because they couldn't see for laughing. I wanted to share this with you all, as an example of how important what we do can be. Rather than just worry, knitting gave me something I could do to try and help. And knitting made her laugh. And that is the best medicine I can think of.