A STORY OF RUTH

KNITTING...A LIFE LONG SISTERHOOD OR A STORY OF RUTH By Karen A. Lech Her hair was the wispy white of unpsun wool. Her blue eyes were lit up like 4th of July fireworks. Her bent shoulders were covered with a hand-knit shawl and she sat in her wheelchair, watching. Her arthritic hands were moving together rapidly and the smile on her face was one of pure bliss. I was oblivious of her presence until... "Excuse me" a voice said. I looked up, startled. I was sitting in a hospital lobby, waiting for my sister who was having some tests done. I, being the shoulder to lean on, was there for her. I was preoccupied with my knitting and did not even notice the people sitting around me also waiting for their tests or their family members who were having tests. When I looked up a nurse was standing before me. Oh-oh, my sister was having problems, I thought. The nurse spoke again, "Do you see think you could come over and talk to this lady? Her name is Ruth." She stepped aside to give me view of a little woman crouched in a wheelchair. The smile on the woman's face was like sun breaking through clouds. Her hands were moving together in a familiar pattern. Then it hit me... she was KNITTING! I walked over and introduced myself. This joyous lady was murmuring "Knit one, purl two." She looked up at me beatifically and began to speak. "Hi, my name is Ruth." "Hello, Ruth," I said, "Do you like knitting?" I figured I would humor her as she seemed so intent on what I was doing. I handed over my knitting to her and asked her if she would like to knit for a while. "What is your pattern here?" She asked. I found out it was not I to be humoring her, but her to be humoring me. Ruth told me that for forty years she ran a shop in Waukegan, Illinois - a yarn shop. She GAVE knitting lessons, teaching children to adults. She had knit everything under the sun, but most precious to her was a hand-knit blue dress. She described that dress so lovingly, I know she put her heart and soul into each stitch. Ruth told me that was how she had made her living, running her shop and it was the joy of her life. She was now in a retirement home, and had not the every day pleasure of opening the door to her work place, her artist's gallery of fiber, smelling and surveying the yarns and books, being there as a source of supply for the knitters and crotchetiers who could count on her to have just the right yarn, pattern, and advice. I sat on the floor before this lady as if she were a queen on a throne, watching her gnarled fingers holding my circular knitting needles and knitting stitches slowly as we talked. It wasn't too much later that my sister came out, done and beaming. She spied me and looked quizzically at her big sis sitting on the floor in a hospital lobby next to a woman in a wheelchair. I introduced them and reluctantly told Ruth I had to go. She gave me a sad smile and slowly handed over my knitting. "Watch for me in the obituaries and come see me.. I want to be buried in that blue dress and you can see the pattern." She told me. I blinked back tears as I stood up, then bent over and hugged her. "Ruth, it was such a pleasure meeting you. I know you have given the gift of your hands and heart to many, many people." I stared into her eyes and held her hands in mine. Before I walked away, I took the nurse aside and asked if Ruth had knitting needles or yarn to work with at the nursing home. The nurse said she would look into it as she was amazed how lively and animated Ruth was during our brief visit. Knitting... life long sisterhood spanning age group and time eternal. I hug the poncho I am still knitting away on when I get a spare moment and think of Ruth - still a treasure to knitters and a very inspiring woman. - by Karen A. Lech