The Laundromat

                                               Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

So to the calmly gathered thoughtThe innermost of life is taught,The mystery dimly understood,That love of God is love of good:That to be saved is only this--Salvation from our selfishness.

--John Greenleaf Whittier.

It's been a long time since I walked into a laundromat. How did I get there in the first place? Well, there was something wrong with the washing machine in our building. I've tried numerous times to get it started to no avail. Besides, the laundry was piling up. 

The laundromat was busy, filled with Latino women folding clothes and chattering away in their own language. The children were playing on the floor as their moms worked. 

After turning the washing machine on, I sat down , pulling out my crocheting to keep me busy while I waited. No longer than five minutes went past before a group of ladies stood before me.  In heavily accented voices they wanted to know what I'm doing. They kept exclaiming how beautiful the blanket was and touched the softness of the yarn.  They were intrigued. They were fascinated. They wanted to learn.

I don't know what it is about my crocheting or this act of a hook in my hands that seems to draw people to me. I cannot go anywhere without a similar reaction. It is just yarn. It is just a crocheting hook. When it is combined, the art of beauty is formed. People remember their grandmother, or their mother or even themselves once  crocheting. It's a good memory, a warm memory. 

People seem to love handmade things. It doesn't matter if it is a homemade cake, a hand sewn apron or a knitted hat, they see the beauty. People appreciate the handiwork that goes with it. 

They want more of it. Of all the things they save in a box somewhere, it's always a handmade toy, a baby blanket knitted by their mom or an ornament or a card. And so on and so on. I, myself, still have a box of handmade Christmas ornaments that Joey and Emily have made with their own small hands. 

We hold on. We love. We remember. We cherish forever. 

Have a blessed day everyone.