In Honor of a True Friend

I just read Marissa's blog at Life On Our Side of the Mountain about a new crochet project she is working on.  Reading and watching the video made we want to pick up my crochet hooks again!

It also reminded me of when and why I learned to crochet.  About ten years ago, during a family emergency, a couple that we barely knew from the little church that we had just started attending came to the hospital to sit with me while Country Boy underwent emergency bypass surgery.  This couple continued to help our family out and minister to us while Country Boy was recovering.  During this time, the four of us just seemed to 'click'.  Once my hubby was back to work the friendship grew stronger and blossomed!  The four of us were inseparable!  We camped together on every three day weekend; we got together at each others' houses every weekend for dinner and a rip-roaring game of Nertz; I started working at the same bank; our husbands were two peas in a pod; and so-on and so-on!  Then one day, my friend started experiencing some abnormal bleeding.  After a month or two of mis-diagnoses, she found out she had Stage Four uterine cancer.  We were blown away.  She fought hard for a year and a half.  One day towards the end of her battle, I was going to stay with her for the day while her husband did some errands.  She was going to teach me to crochet.  I brought several different hooks and some red, white and blue yarn.  I was ready!  When I arrived at their house, her husband told me that he was having a difficult time with her that morning and he could barely get her out of bed.  We discovered that she had had a mini-stroke sometime during the night.  Needless to say, there was no crocheting done and I spent the day caring for her.  I called Country Boy and told him he needed to stop by their place on his way home from work.  After all her family and friends were able to see her and tell her they loved her she went home to see her Lord early that evening at the age of 42.  I was fortunate to be able to tell her that I loved her and that it was OK to leave us.  She then took her last breath.  She fought a good fight but her time here on this earth was over.

That night, I promised myself that I would learn to crochet in honor of my friend.  It was several years later before I made good on that promise.  I bought some Learn to Crochet books and then a neighbor showed me some basic stitches and I attempted my first afghan.

In honor of my friend...

I enjoyed every minute that was spent on the  stitches of this afghan.

To this day, I miss her terribly!  I miss the four of us and all the good times we had.  True friends are few and far between but I am thankful that I had the opportunity to know this wonderful lady, my friend!  And I know that I will see her again one day!

Till next time,