I did it! I did a writing exercise before the last day of the month. A Christmas miracle?
At any rate, I was having a lot of fun with it and wanted to write more and crazier things but maybe later after I finish my latest WIP. It's fun letting first drafts fly.
Happy Holidays and I wish you health and happiness in the new year.
Words: Knit, feminist, hostility,
mobile
Grandma, Aunt Lou, Mom and Sister Mary sat in the living
room knitting hats for homeless people. That was the cause of the month, which
was better than last month’s, Llama’s with long necks. Four llamas got their
own coat-matching scarves. (Insert eye roll here). I like it when they knit
things for babies or kids in the hospital. The tiny clothes are just adorable.
And super colorful. You have no idea.
I sat behind them at the dining room table doing my
homework, or at least pretending to, and listening to them.
Grandma and Sister Mary were sisters and Aunt Lou and Mom
were sisters. And isn’t that enough estrogen to float a dirigible. Believe me,
it is.
Sister Mary was a feminist first and a nun second. Don’t
tell Mother Superior. Grandma couldn’t have cared less about that. She never
learned to drive. Even after Grandpa died.
This is how their conversation would go.
Grandma – Oh knock it
off Mary.
Sister Mary – What? I’m
just saying.
G – You’re always just
saying.
SM – Better than what
you say.
G – What, that it’s okay
for a woman to cook and clean and volunteer.
SM – No, that a woman
ONLY should do those things. Women do everything and should.
G – You dance on my last
nerve Mare.
SM – You are my last
nerve Grace.
The conversation between Mom and Aunt Lou is different
but oddly similar, with more hostility I’d say.
Mom – Pass that needle
Lou.
Aunt Lou – Would it kill
you to say please?
M – Pleeeeze Lou?
(Insert eye roll here too).
AL – Don’t think I didn’t
see that. Do you have a piano tied to your ass? You got two good legs and arms,
get it yourself.
M – Haven’t you finished
menopause Lou?
AL – Pot meet kettle.
See what I mean?
When I was a baby, these four ladies or women, knit
little animals and made a blue, pink, yellow and green mobile for me. I’ve had
it hanging in my room for as long as I can remember.
And you know what? It symbolizes the best of these women
who sang Christmas carols while preparing for my arrival. Sweaters, mitts,
booties and hats. They even tried to knit a diaper cover. Not a big seller. But
they loved doing it together and they loved each other. Hard to see that
anymore.
So as much as I love these women and all their quirks and
faults, warts and farts, hearts and souls, foul language (yes, you, Sister Mary
and Grandma) and fair weather, the knit baby mobile is the only thing I’m
taking with me when I go live with my dad.
Ssssh. They don’t know yet.
