Sew Therapy

When tragedy strikes those affected, either directly or indirectly, are often over whelmed with the need to do something, anything, to help.  It isn’t unusual for people facing hard times to be inundated with food, gifts, well wishes, and offers to help.  As a friend wisely told me recently, this is a much for the benefit of the person helping as it is for the one being helped.  We feel we must do something, even when we have no idea what we can possibly do. However, sometimes there just isn’t anything to be done.  That is when the tragedy can hit you hardest.

A few years ago, my grandpa passed away.  I found myself overwhelmed by this same desire.  I had to do something.  But there wasn’t anything I could do.  All the plans and preparations that needed to be done were taken care of by everyone else.  What do you do when there isn’t anything to do?  I started a quilt.  I still haven’t finished it, but just having something that I could work on, something I could just pick up and stitch on, helped me through the hard times.

Now as I face the loss of my grandma, I find myself once again searching for something to do.  Although I know in my heart of hearts that my grandparents are happy together again, I feel the need and the desire to do something.  What better tribute could I offer then to sew a quilt for the woman who first taught me to thread a bobbin?  Grandma hand quilted one quilt after another for grandchildren as they reached the age of 16.  It seemed appropriate to make one for her.  So when my mom suggested I make a quilt from her clothing, I was quick to agree.

I have often heard quilting referred to as being, “Cheaper then therapy.”  It is true that quilting can be quite therapeutic, and in more ways than one.  It gives you something to do when there isn’t anything else to be done.  It keeps you busy in times when idleness would drive you crazy.  It is a way to help people when there isn’t any other way to help.  It gives you a sense of accomplishment.  And sometimes it gives you something to yell at, a way to vent frustrations that would otherwise build up in side.

I know that I can never repay all that my grandparents have done for me, but I hope they know that they will never be forgotten and that I will forever be grateful for all they have done for me.

Until we meet again. Aloha ‘oe.

Dedicated to Al and Viki.