Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Quilt of Valor #4: Points and Borders

     I meant to post this on July 4th, and not until today did I realize it was a draft.  I have been absent from here far too long and I am finally getting my mojo back to keep going. hope to still see you here.

As a promise to myself, I finished the top today. It only required a strip of ribbon points on all sides and a solid border all around. It has been a fast and furious month full of family obligations in which I was not able to work on the quilt at all. I knew I would have only a day or two to complete this task.
     My thoughts about the soldier receiving this quilt was a bit sidelined in the past few days, because my dearest friend (my long-arm friend)  has been evacuated from their beautiful mountain home in Wyoming.  With so many fires in the west right now this fire was getting little attention. It has now grown to the third most active fire in the nation, but there has been nothing in the news about this one. I have been glued to the tiny maps on the information website trying to see where the fire is going. My eyes strain to focus while I try to figure out which dot or X's is their hourse or fence.  It has been a search of points and borders of another kind. 
     As I continue on that thought of points and borders, I drift into how we have become a nation of pushing our points across to each other and the building up of borders to keep us from our neighbors. Whether it is a political division, or  a marital spat, or just a traffic lane change, we seem to take on a it's my way or no way. We may listen to, shake our heads at, and even pray for those devestated by fires, or battles, but very quickly we get back to our own lives and pay no attention to those around us. I'm usually wrapped up in my own sorrow that accompanies this day, and I forget that there is a soldier that will one day get this quilt who is fighting whatever battles still may remain with him or her.  I was stopped in my tracks to switch into a prayer and wait and see mode for my friend.   I remember hearing some saying that goes somewhat like this, "Be kind to everyone you meet because they too are fighting some battle." 
     A call this morning did give bittersweet news from Wyoming: she's fine and their home is okay...for now, but their old homestead ranch where she grew up and her brother lived was completely destroyed. It will still be a long wait until they are able to see their home and assess the damage to livestock and buildings and a lifetime of memories. Although this is usually a tough anniversary day for me and my family, my tears flow for my dear friend today.

1 comment:

  1. As I re-read this post, there are so many things I missed first time around in this entry. It's been a busy time here, too. The ways you continue to express your insight into things around you and see the parallels is inspiring to look beyond the obvious. Even when things are hectic, here's a reminder to get out of myself. Thank you. So very happy your friend is all right. You didn't "overlook" her!

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Suzanne