Husbands and Other Helpers

I love my husband, we have been married for 33 years and we still like each other! He has been instrumental in getting me going in my fiber adventures. He helped me untangle balls of yarn when I first “re-learned” knitting. He encouraged me through the  down times when my knitting would go astray (as in many mistakes, “this is a sock?”). When we lived in a small town in South Dakota years ago I was having trouble coping. He sat me down and asked the proverbial question, “If you had all the money in the world what would you do?” I said, “I would buy a loom and weave.” He was surprised and commented on how big a loom is and how small our house was! Then he asked, “what else would you do if you didn’t have a loom?” I said I would like to spin. He encouraged me to find a spinning wheel and a teacher and we would save up the money to purchase the wheel and the lessons. I went to work at the local library for a few dollars each time I was there and saved that. I saved birthday money, change from the grocery store, every penny I could get my hands on. We went to Colorado for school every summer from this small town and I found a spinning wheel and bought it with my savings and part of the money he needed for schooling. Being poor is hard. BUT, that was 15 years ago and I am still spinning. I have purchased a small loom now, and am using that on a daily basis. My husband says, “that spinning wheel has made you so happy and peaceful.” He advocates fiber arts to other husbands, “it really makes a difference for your wife if she is doing what she desires to do.” One time he bought a computer and I was feeling funny about his purchase. I never said anything. When the computer arrived, he came to me and said, "I fell guilty. I bought this computer and you didn't get anything. Would you like another spinning wheel?" I laughed, hugged him and said, "I love it that you fell guilty. Other husbands wouldn't have thought anything about it. I would like a drum carder. Thanks!" I got my drum carder, he insisted it cost as much as his computer, No Problem! :)

My other helpers are my friends. I have so many friends to be thankful for and especially to thank for helping me in my fiberly pursuits. Connie taught me to spin, Ernestine keeps me honest in my knitting, Rita gives me the opportunity to weave daily, Cindie gave me pleasure when she showed me her weavings, Amanda helps me with knitting customers, then there are Jen, Sharon, Gayle, Sandi, Wendy, Kim, Kelli, Cindy and Pat who are my fiber friends. There are so many friends who knit along with me, challenge me, encourage me, laugh with me, cry with me. The fiber world is filled with friends.

My pets TRY to help me, but they are the “helpers” that are cute, but not really helpful! Zoey and Gracie just undo the things I have done, so I suppose they are the challenge in my life, teaching me how to untangle things. 

Do you have “Helpers” in your life that challenge you, encourage you and teach you? I hope you do, they are invaluable.
SUE