About a week ago
Donni sent us all an e-mail to see how we are enjoying the Tribe. My answer, of course was "very much, thank-you", but with one small aside. You see, because I do not knit I often feel that I am on the ‘
fringe’* of the group. Sure, some of you sew and bead like I do, but primarily you all keep knitting blogs and your main interests are knitting. When you issue a challenge to other Tribe members, or get excited about a new book, or even send gifties to each other it is most always knitting based. Donni suggested that I post ‘why’ I don’t knit, not to justify my position, mind you, but because it might be helpful to my future matches. To be honest, I had to give that some serious thought, firstly because admitting my difference will bump me just a bit further down that fringe, and secondly because it’s personal. The easy answer is’ because I don’t know
how to knit’** and I know of no one to teach me (I don’t believe I’d ever sort it out from a book). The hard answer, is ... well ... hard, and pretty lame at the same time. And above all it is dramatic - in fact so much so you have to say it this way ... "dramaaatic", preferably in your best Joan Collins voice. The short of it is that I have an auto immune disease that, among other things, affects my hands, and will likely one day cost me the use of them entirely. I have said that I don’t want to knit because it will be just one more thing I will loose when I ‘loose’ my hands. But I think in reality, I just don’t want to be reminded of what I can’t do (and I am maybe just too lazy to learn).
It might be more appropriate to share with you how a ‘non-knitter’ became a part of this group. Oddly enough, it was through Secret Pal. I’m sure you are scratching your heads over that one... a ‘non-knitter’ participating in a knitting gift ring ... what?! You see, I stumbled over
Rox’s blog at the same time she was wrapping up her tenure as hostess for SP4 (maybe 5 - dunno). She was desperate for ‘angels’ and I jumped right in and volunteered, well before I realized that it was supposed to be strictly knitters. Once the
horror of dealing with a non-knitter passed (lol) Rox was kind enough to let me angel, twice in fact. Sadly, I did not form lasting friendships with those lovely ladies, but I enjoyed my involvement nonetheless. When the ‘Tribe’ idea came about, well, Rox put in the good word and here I am. She has even apologized more than once for that invitation, because she is aware of my occasional ‘fringe’ feelings. But I do not feel any apology is necessary, unless it be from me and saying that I’m sorry I don’t gift ‘knitty’ things, or that I don’t comment often because I have no clue what language you are writing in sometimes ***, or that I don’t participate in challenges like the Knitting Olympics. But even that apology, I know, is not really needed, because before we are knitters, or sewers or crafters of any kind, we are women who like to give and receive. We like to be occasionally pampered, even in small ways, because it reminds us, however briefly, that we are real, living, breathing beings that deserve, yes deserve, to be cherished and that we are, each of us, special. We enjoy having the power deliver that same reminder to others across the world with a simple card or gift.
I’ll put my soap-box away now, and I thank-you for letting me getting that off my chest. But before I go, I’d like to challenge each of you to practice that power of helping someone know how special they are as often as possible - and not just among tribe members. Consider sending you hair-dresser a note of thanks, or someone you work with via phone but have never met a handmade goodie, or even just make a big fuss over a loved one getting home from work. Everyone deserves to feel special, everyday, and the feeling you get back from your effort will be just like giving a gift to yourself.
*I may not knit, but I can engage in knitting puns - right?
**
This book however might encourage me to give it a go ... I am just fascinated by those flowers
***.’LYS’, for example took me three months to figure out. Thank goodness, Sharon had the presence of mind to share the pronunciation of ‘Clapotis’! - har
!
