People think we're serious do-gooders, as we arrive, knitting bags and baskets demurely hanging from arms or shoulders. In actual fact, it's more that we’re feel-gooders, who are determined to make the best use of time away from “real” life. For two hours we throw caution to the winds, ingredients into the slow-cooker, along with family cares and ever-waiting household chores
We walk purposefully past the beautiful young librarian staff at Gibsons District Library, and into our very own space there, a large room with tables and chairs. Heather, the outreach coordinator there, must have drawn the short straw, ‘cause she’s loosely in charge of seeing we don't wreck the place. She makes tea and coffee to welcome us, even goes shopping to make sure some of the more depraved ones among us can have special coffee cream in their coffee. After being subjected to various adoring hugs and bits of news she gratefully and discreetly shuts the quadruple-panel glass door leaving us to wallow in catching up all that’s happened during the last week..
It's amazing how much joy you can find when you knit squares for charity. We have so many wonderful characters among the knitters. There's a camaraderie that is hard to beat. Women have a special relationship together when they have an interest like this. A hive of bees would be hard pressed to have their sound heard above the sheer bedlam of voices raised in animated discussion and laughter that happens in that room! It's exhausting, exhilarating, even for those who are naturally quiet, like me.
Women all over the world, in all kinds of circumstances, have learned that in the end, it's other women who understand.
When the uncertainty of youth fades, the competitiveness of achievement dwindles in intensity, and even your skin and body texture has disheartening changes, a new phase begins. It's the discovery that you actually did find out who you are, and most times it's not too bad at all. Your birth sisters might be far away, and still remotely precious just because of their blood connection to you. But the new and old friends who become your next sisterhood bring a richness and vitality to your life on the downside of the hill; a slew of knowledge that you all share and laugh about.
There are jokes that only women understand perfectly. They've lived with the complexity of those who star in them.
They've run the gamut of emotions; love, hate, pity, sadness, self doubt, depression, tenderness, fear. They've faced the challenges of life, and still continue to do so.
But in latter years, no matter what the situation, a calmness comes. They deal with their troubles, instead of just staying the course. They know life is short, and you may as well enjoy whatever you can. Their love remains constant but not necessarily directed to one main person.
They've become part of the global sisterhood.