Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Do you believe that things happen for a reason? I do. I don't believe in a Master Plan or Predestination or anything like that. But I comfort myself when things happen that it all happens for a reason. Sometimes I get to know the reason but often not.

Like, I have no idea of the reason for Em's alien spine baby but maybe it will be revealed in the fullness of time. Maybe not. Maybe life is really a series of random incidents and we're all just in it for the popcorn.

Whichever it is, for some reason I just happened to be trying to waste 15 minutes at work so I could go home (we now have to clock in and out so leaving early is no longer an option) and I happened onto the ravelry forums page. There in the South Jersey Knitters section was a headline that read "alpaca fest". Whoot! I have been trying to think of something to do on Sunday so we could all have a peaceful, restful day before the long surgery day. I originally wanted to have a picnic but the weather wasn't looking too promising so I was casting about for something else and Voila! There it was. I texted Em and she was interested so she and I and Pk and possibly Jim are going to try to make it to the alpaca fiesta sponsored by alpacanation. It's at a local farm and there will be fiber and animals and fiber and spinning and did I mention the fiber? Em loves alpacas so it will be a nice way to spend some time. Then we can maybe have a meal and she can go home early and rest up and Pk and I can spend the evening trying not to be nervous.

I've been working on the lace and it's growing nicely but it looks the same. Just bigger. I have 7 more repeats to go and then some grafting and blocking. I'm not used to having three pairs of socks on the needles and am having some trouble giving each pair equal time. I think I'm just going to have to finish them one at a time. I actually got in some knitting on the train on the way home today. It's been too crowded lately. I felt myself concentrate and that sense of peace that comes with concentration settled on me and I realized how much I missed the train knitting. It helped me relax and I was in a better mood when I got off the train. Work has been busy, not terrible, just busy and sometimes it's hard to let it go. The train knitting really helps with that and I had forgotten. I will fight harder for my share of the space to get in the knitting that brings the relaxation.

Because I'm a nicer person when I am relaxed.

13 comments:

Olivia said...

I don't necessarily think things happen for a reason, but that you don't know what will come out of something further down the line. Even bad things can have wonderful repercussions later, or just resonate on the rest of your life in different ways.

Oh yes, a few moments of knitting can make me feel settled and calm in a day when I am tired, twitchy, or frustrated. (Or even on a good day). I think it's the repetitive element which is calming, combined with being productive and creative.

Bells said...

i tend to call on the 'for a reason' thing when bad things happen. I don't actually believe but when, say, ivf fails again, I find my brain going in that direction and I figure it's a coping mechanism. Whatever gets us through, right?

Alwen said...

That was what used to make me nuts about my office job, having to stay and look busy when I didn't have any work. Cleaning offices might not be glamorous, but when the work is done, it's done and I go home!

Alpacas are fun. I like when I drive by a field and they have one in with the sheep. (If they're raised with sheep, they help chase coyotes or dog packs away.)

Taphophile said...

Things do happen for a reason. Maybe not obvious and maybe it's not always good, but somethings are meant.

Enjoy the alpacas. Those eyelashes just kill me!

roxie said...

Knitting is a form of meditation, and meditation has been proven good for you. You ARE taking knitting to the hospital, aren't you? something simple AND something that needs focus. (If you can't focus, at least you will have something for your fingers to fidget with.)

Things DO happen for a reason, and it's up to us to make the best of them we can. Em is going to be a stronger, braver, more compassionate woman at the end of this, as are you. And PK will continue to be a staunch and loving man.

Kaye said...

Sometimes I like to think our lives are already written out and we're just at certain pages/sections of the plot. But sometimes not.

Have fun at the paca fest!

amy said...

Aren't we all nicer when we're relaxed? :)

I don't know on the "for a reason" explanation. I suppose I think the universe is guided by a plan we humans don't understand--I rather think a beautiful, undecipherable form of physics is in charge. I think that sometimes, bad things happen. And sometimes good things happen. And all we can really control is our own response and how we handle it. We can rage and say the bad things aren't fair, or we can look for the good. You seem very good at doing the latter.

Enjoy the alpacas!!

Sheepish Annie said...

I like it when things seem to all "fit." Yay for finding the alpacas!!

Galad said...

The alpaca fest sounds like a great family outing. Enjoy!

Rose Red said...

I'm with Amy - although I do believe in karma (which I know is not the same as 'for a reason'). But karma is not responsible for everything - like the alien baby is NOT karma biting you all in the a*se, but the fab response to Em's beef n beer is karma responding to her wonderful nature (and that of her family).

Will be thinking of you all on the weekend and through next week. Hugs all round.

Amy Lane said...

Aren't we ALL nicer people when we get our relaxation time--but seriously, WHOOT on the alpacanation!

DrK said...

yes i think there is a reason, just maybe not the one i want, or thats not clear at the time. i hope the 'paccys and the knitting helps you get through this weekend, and the weeks ahead xx

Jeanne said...

I haven't been knitting on the train (or really anywhere) either lately - and maybe that's why I've been really stressed out. I need to start doing it more - it really is relaxing.

Have fun at the alpaca fest!

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