Bette's Mom

I was invited by a quilter friend to Bette's mom's house, they needed to get rid of all of the sewing stuff to make room for a caregiver. Her health had gotten to the point where she could no longer care for herself, nor was she able to speak. Bette told us that she hadn't touched her sewing in over 3 years and that they needed to sell it if she was going to stay out of a nursing home. The family had decided it was best and called all the quilters they knew to come in and buy the stuff, the money would help to fund the remodel. Even with hearing all of that I wasn't prepared for Bette's mom to be sitting there watching us. Bette reassured us yet I couldn't help feeling so sad as I watched her watch us disassemble her life, piece by piece. She sat, not saying a word with her mouth but her eyes read volumes. Her hands were no longer able to hold a needle or manipulate fabric the way it used to but her love of it was apparant. Her sewing room was full of organized plastic boxes, each holding treasures for the next quilt. In some of the boxes we found perfectly choosen coordinating fabric with the pattern awaiting their turn at the sewing machine. There were shelves and shelves of magazine holders, full of quilting magazines which help patterns she planned on making. On the sewing table were bits and pieces of things that we all use and love, pins, scissors, tapes, and buttons, thread and bobbins. So much stuff, a life time of accumilation, of dreams, of UFO's. I couldn't help but thinking that there sat all of us, one day we will all arrive at a place we can no longer do the things we love. I think the hardest part of that realization is the fact of all the unfufilled dreams, knowing inside that your life is almost over. I hope Bette's mom knows where she is going, believes in our Savior, for then nothing is lost, but all gain. Elsewise, its a lifetime of bobbles and bits and fabric that little value to others. As I got home I sat and looked at the things I had gotten, I found a beautiful thimble, used many times. I placed it on my finger and wondered how many quilts she had quilted with it, I wish I knew the stories behind the tiny treasures. No one in her family sews or quilts, and they didn't feel it important to keep an momentos. My girlfriend found a drawer full of finished blocks, she took to make a quilt for them, probably to be delivered after she is gone. This is not unlike my family, do we really know the person when we don't really know what the person loved. It has been a hard day of looking in through a window to our future. It reminds me to make each day count, to enjoy every process of each project or adventure and so that when its over I will have no regrets, only accomplishments and peace knowing I spent my time wisely.