Ah, Julie, what a carefully, well-crafted examination of quiet tasks of caretaking the outer parts of our inner lives. A sock, a sweater cover a frame that carries the who of our beings. The effort to pay attention to a hole in a sock can maybe open the opportunity to gaze at the unseen chasm grief can be. It’s a metaphor beautifully opened by your words. Thank you.
I love this writing prompt! I'm allergic to wool, but I still adore it as a fiber, even if from a distance. And I also loved the way you used mending vs. darning as a metaphor for grief.
I've recently gotten into mending my clothes and I feel so powerful, it's crazy. I do think writing is very much like darning, unravelling edges and working on existing 'stuff' to rebuild and create something new.....whereas you THINK writing is going to be like creating a dress from a pattern. Thanks for sharing!
There is something powerful about a new skill like that, right? Thank you for the pattern vs darning image for writing too. Like making a life, as well....
Yes! definitely power. You suddenly realise you can fix things yourself...and you look around wondering what else you can fix instead of buying anew. Being able to sew a button on my jeans was a huge moment for me!
I have not been a skillful knitter, weaver, mender or darner, but one of our writing sisters helped me to knit a heart (my first and only finished knitting project), and I reread the writing about it after reading your wooly words this morning. https://fartheralongbook.com/2014/02/13/knitting-hearts/
And then I thought of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus who wove the shroud and disassembled the weaving every night to stall the suitors. The idea of weaving/reweaving and mending holes in hearts. . .So much grief work.
Kay, you always add such rich and thoughtful connections in these comments, and I am grateful. The post you shared with your knitting project also has in the comments the link to Brian Doyle's "Joyas Volardores" which I started to add in here. I decided it needs its own post someday. I can still hear your beautiful writing after that prompt.
When I first stopped drinking, I occupied my shaky hands with a basket of mending--small stitches that became my first attempt to heal our home. The darning came later because I had to unravel everything before I could trust what was mine and what was meant to be rebuilt.
Hi there. I believe you can still register and receive the video and handout. In December I am leading a Grief and Advent series which will have more writing time (and less of me talking) than the webinar. Thanks for your interest!
A committed wool& stan here! Have replaced much of my wardrobe with their pieces that will last years. And am culling a lot.
I’m still working on the culling!
Ah, Julie, what a carefully, well-crafted examination of quiet tasks of caretaking the outer parts of our inner lives. A sock, a sweater cover a frame that carries the who of our beings. The effort to pay attention to a hole in a sock can maybe open the opportunity to gaze at the unseen chasm grief can be. It’s a metaphor beautifully opened by your words. Thank you.
Shannan
Oh that's a powerful image, Shannan. Thank you!
I love this writing prompt! I'm allergic to wool, but I still adore it as a fiber, even if from a distance. And I also loved the way you used mending vs. darning as a metaphor for grief.
Thanks, Kandi. I've always loved how you talk and write about threads and weaving!
Thank you, Julie!
I've recently gotten into mending my clothes and I feel so powerful, it's crazy. I do think writing is very much like darning, unravelling edges and working on existing 'stuff' to rebuild and create something new.....whereas you THINK writing is going to be like creating a dress from a pattern. Thanks for sharing!
There is something powerful about a new skill like that, right? Thank you for the pattern vs darning image for writing too. Like making a life, as well....
Yes! definitely power. You suddenly realise you can fix things yourself...and you look around wondering what else you can fix instead of buying anew. Being able to sew a button on my jeans was a huge moment for me!
I have not been a skillful knitter, weaver, mender or darner, but one of our writing sisters helped me to knit a heart (my first and only finished knitting project), and I reread the writing about it after reading your wooly words this morning. https://fartheralongbook.com/2014/02/13/knitting-hearts/
And then I thought of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus who wove the shroud and disassembled the weaving every night to stall the suitors. The idea of weaving/reweaving and mending holes in hearts. . .So much grief work.
Kay, you always add such rich and thoughtful connections in these comments, and I am grateful. The post you shared with your knitting project also has in the comments the link to Brian Doyle's "Joyas Volardores" which I started to add in here. I decided it needs its own post someday. I can still hear your beautiful writing after that prompt.
When I first stopped drinking, I occupied my shaky hands with a basket of mending--small stitches that became my first attempt to heal our home. The darning came later because I had to unravel everything before I could trust what was mine and what was meant to be rebuilt.
Oh thanks for this, Sarah. Small mending stitches before the hard work of darning. Yes.
I missed the webinar. Is this one you might offer again?
Hi there. I believe you can still register and receive the video and handout. In December I am leading a Grief and Advent series which will have more writing time (and less of me talking) than the webinar. Thanks for your interest!