Joy

the final wedding post

On July 21, 2010, in big picture stuff, daughter, joy, my people, son, by Lori

I promise I’m not going to keep going on and on about this, but a photo came in from my daughter Katie’s collection and it’s really how I wanted to end my wedding posting – it says it all. Thank you Katie!

And a couple of Marnie dancing with her parents:

Marnie dances with her dad - this is SO them

Marnie and me, doing our private dance to our song

I hope seeing the pictures makes you feel — even a little bit — some of the joy.

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o happy day (o happy day)

On July 12, 2010, in FO2010, daughter, joy, knitting, lace, love it, shawl, by Lori

happy! joy!

SUCH a wonderful, happy day for me! I finished the final little details of my old job, tied up every last loose end, left nothing undone, left on a very high note.

I finished grafting the shawl together, and it LOOKS GREAT! I was so worried that the graft would be obvious and weird, but you know the kitchener stitch is really amazing. It really looks seamless. Now I just have to weave in a couple of ends, then soak it for a bit and do the blocking.

Isn’t it great when the things that hang over you are finished? You know that glorious feeling of liberation and accomplishment and exuberance?

Yeah. I’ve got those going. After I finish the blocking, I think I’ll do the next swatch for Peasy, so I can work on it on the flight later this week. To my daughter’s wedding. Two girls happily married, that’s another great relief, you know?

blocking

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in which it is FINE to be a human

On June 21, 2010, in NY stories, it's the little things too, joy, by Lori

There are moments in life when the soundtrack syncs perfectly. Do you know what I mean? One very hot summer night a couple of years ago, my husband and I went out for a walk around 10pm. We were headed toward the Columbia University campus, which is just a couple of blocks up Broadway from our apartment. We walked to the corner of Broadway, and just as we turned left to head toward campus, someone somewhere started playing Summertime on a trumpet. It was haunting, and perfect, and such an incredible New York moment. The living did feel easy; it was a sultry night, the music was perfectly suited and played by someone who had much more emotion than skill, which made it even better, and I was walking in my beloved city, with my beloved husband. I got goose bumps then, and I always get them when I recall that moment, like I’m doing now. Perfect, and magical.

blue skies and puffy clouds

And today, just now, another moment like that. It’s the first day of summer, the light is dazzling, the sky is blue, the air smells sweet (so far….check back with me later when the air reeks of trash and urine), shopkeepers are spraying their sidewalks so there is a cool mist in the air all along the sidewalk, and I was walking to the UPS shop with my beloved daughter’s wedding dress in my arms, ready to send her.

As always, I was listening to music. As I turned the corner onto Broadway, a string of absolutely PERFECT songs came on my ipod: Beautiful Day, by U2; Feels So Good, by Chuck Mangione; and Boogie Shoes, by who else – K.C. and the Sunshine Band. I felt my feet leave the ground. And, of course, I cried. That’s so me. You can’t give someone else your synchronicity, but in case you also like these songs, and they fit your day, here they are:

Also: yodeling, banjo music, and laughter in a lot of different languages. Things that add to my feeling that it is fine to be a human being in this world.

ok go!

On April 30, 2010, in joy, video, by Lori

remember the guys who did that great video with treadmills? check this out:

Watch the whole thing – it made me laugh out loud a number of times, and feel happy to be alive.

being a maker

On April 10, 2010, in big picture stuff, joy, by Lori

A few days ago, I was thinking about the different names for creative people – artist, craftsman, artisan, crafter, and then the specifics, like knitter, quilter, furniture maker, etc. Today I am sewing, working on my daughter’s wedding dress, and the living room is my messy workspace. As I was stepping around papers spread on the floor, I glanced at my Shaker box on the coffee table and was just filled with pleasure, the pleasure of the colors, the yarn, the textures, the messy pile. And I saw my sunny sewing table and felt such happiness. And the dress pieces, stacked on the table waiting for me.