Out of the shadows, suddenly, she appeared

I've been sick again. It was really bad this time. I'm hoping that the antibiotics have cleared everything from my lungs and everywhere else.

There hasn't been much knitting or anything else crafty happening. It's been a chore just to try to keep up with laundry.

Work has been hectic. Almost all of us are working overtime. A check with overtime pay is good but it sure wears out an already weary body.

Since I'm still feeling tired, I'm making this a quick post.

Knitting:

It has taken a back seat to every day life and just feeling well. The socks, the hat, and the egg cozy are still all on the needles waiting for me to give them attention. While I haven't been doing much knitting, I have been reading posts at Knitters' Review and checking out a few blogs. I've also made a commitment to make it to my next knitting meeting.

I've decided that I'm not loving the way the socks are going so I'm ripping them to either alter the pattern or to try a new pattern altogether.

I'm planning to attend an upcoming knitting conference so it would be really good if I could finish something to take along with me for the "Show and Tell" segment. I'm also awaiting receiving the homework assignments for the conference.

Crochet:

Inspired by Vera of Vera's Crafty Blog, I've decided I'd like to make this bag at some point in 2006. I've also decided that I'd like to actually complete the ABC blanket.

I don't know about anyone else's luck, but as much as I like to crochet, I seem to have trouble finding crochet books and magazines with patterns that I like. In January I found Essential Crochet and it is now on my list of books to purchase. I'm hoping there will be more books like it in the future.

Life and Death:

I had a death in the family. I traveled out of town for the funeral to the area where my grandparents and many of my relatives lived/live. I had not been there in about 20 years.

It's always painful to lose someone you love. My uncle was lost unexpectedly. A fall caused brain damage, which ultimately killed him. He had been in the hospital for an unrelated illness and was scheduled to be released. Instead, he fell, hit his head, and never regained consciousness.

Back in my uncle's home town it was incredible to see the sea of faces with all the similar features. I met cousins I had never seen or even knew existed. It was wonderful to hear stories of how he touched the lives of so many.

A sudden death can change your views and priorities so quickly. We, as a family, have made a decision to keep better contact with one another and to plan more family gatherings.

I'm reminded now, more than ever, to enjoy today for everything beautiful with in it. Tomorrow may be a day that I do not see, or even a day when someone else I love is taken from me. It's so important to give the love within us every day of our lives.