Ok, so I have been very bad.  I haven't been back to my blog for months and I have not excuse.  I could make up many but what's the use, I just am so busy with knitting, yoga, friends and family that it slips my mind.  I was reminded this evening when I saw that "Dear Introvert" was looking for writers.  I thought that's right up my ally.  I love to write and occasionally I even say something someone might be interested in.
For instance:  We have had so much going on in Charlottesville, VA lately that it's hard to keep up with.  I actually live 5 miles East of Charlottesville but it doesn't matter.  I'm in the town all the time because that where the shopping, theaters and everything resides.  Charlottesville is actually a remarkable town and I love it.  I moved here 4 years ago from Bergen County, NJ and it was the best thing I ever did.  Who knew that this kind of place even existed.  I think I've gotten off track.
I wanted to discuss these statues we have down here.  To be perfectly frank with you, I don't even know where they are and I could care less.  However, I do object to them being taken down.  I think that if we hide our history we face the possibility of forgetting the wrongs that have been committed and repeat them.  Virginia was in an interesting place during the Civil War.  It was the place where our country started but we have had racial problems way up until the 60's.  I'm ashamed that I just learned of them when I watched the movie about the women who helped solve the math problems during the war.  When I saw what was done to them, I was completely shocked.  It certainly wasn't like that in the North or I just never noticed it. In any event, I hate racism and I wish we could all return to our childhood when color meant nothing and a friend was a friend no matter what.  However, children grow up and during that time elders teach them things they shouldn't and a circle is formed.  History repeats itself because we teach it to our children.  They were not born to hate anyone. It's a sad state of affairs and I so strongly wish that we could allow the past to be the past, the hate to stop and the healing to begin.  Right now, that seems like light years away.
I have spent the evening making red hearts with a ribbon that says #HEARTS4C'VILLE in an attempt to heal this city after all the hate that was brought in here.  Those of us that live here are really mourning not only the lives that were lost but also the loss of innocence in our town.  This small community has been splashed all over the 24 hour news cycle and we've become the center of radical speech and hateful ways.  We are NOT like that and never were.  It's such a loving, gentle Southern city that welcomes you in and just embraces your presence.  All of us who live here are trying our best to move on and try to bring back the love and peace we previously experienced.  We've been attacked and it will take some time to recover but recover we will and will be an even brighter star on the map for decency and respect.
Back to making hearts to hang around our city to remind everyone of our healing process💝💝

                                      #HEARTS FOR C'VILLE

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS - THE CALM

Well, here we are in February already - the time just flies by.  The best part is that the holidays are over.  I simply hate the whole season.  My dream is to be in an induced coma from the day after Thanksgiving until January 2.  BLISS!!  I know most people would find this shocking but for me its true.  There has been so many disappointing holidays for me and ones that I spent crying my eyes out that it just isn't a happy time for me.  Now that I have a grandson, it's looking somewhat brighter but this year was no exception to the drama around the holidays.  Since I am from a divorced family or "blended family" as my daughter explained to me, there are always hurts.  My stepson from my first marriage (also half-brother to my daughter and son) decided it would be a cool thing to take a photo of the "Carafello" family.  That would be my x-husband's family, meaning him, his wife, his son and my kids minus me of course.  Apparently, his brother who lives in CA sent out t-shirts saying "It's a Carafello thing, you wouldn't understand".  They all put on their t-shirts and took this photo in my son's living room in front of me.  It's not that I wanted to part of that family anymore but  simply because they are my children.  So since there was no T-shirt for me, I was eliminated from this photo.  I was heartbroken because technically other than my husband and my kids, I have NO FAMILY.  I wanted to feel included, part of something and I wasn't.  It was hurtful that my kids wouldn't think to say, "hey, my mom should be here" They were actually angry with me for "being offended" my son said and I was left to deal.  It's not easy but as I get older I just realize that life is not what we expected it to be.  DEAL!

I have been knitting and that helps.  I have learned that knitting is sort of a metaphor for life.  You simply have to learn to accept the process.  You make mistakes, tear things out and start again hoping to get it right this time.  You simply relax and allow things to display as they will.  I'm not as concerned about mistakes or perfection anymore but just about enjoying the process of making something out of nothing.

Wouldn't this be great!  I wanted to post a photo of a couple things I've made but they are on my phone and I haven't downloaded recently so next time.  Valentine's approaches, so love each other.