I started embroidering again. When I was growing up, I constantly had a "TV time project". Whether I was crocheting a scarf, knitting a throw blanket, or embroidering tea towels, I always had something to do when we would watch TV as a family in the evenings. You might think it a bit odd that a kid from the age of 8 to 18 enjoyed those sorts of past times. Maybe it is odd.
But these past times were ones my Mimi taught me. I remember the first "scarf" Mimi taught me to crotchet. I was about 7 years old. I remember fumbling through it in her Buckhead condo kitchen while she cooked. I was so proud to learn a grown up skill like that. We slowly graduated to sewing machine lessons as she showed me how she pieced together her quilt patches and made me skirts.
By the time Mimi and Papa moved to the Georgia club, it was time to teach me how to embroider. It became my new favorite. I made pillow cases, tea towels, and quilt squares. I loved our shopping trips to get materials from a local craft store. I loved looking through all the thread colors and choosing different patterns. I loved creating beautiful pictures with just some thread. I would sit in front of our TV embroidering just like I'd watched her do.
As Mimi's dementia progressed, she still was able to embroider. It soon became the only skill she could perform outside of playing piano. She made quilt squares for all seven of her grandchildren that were made into quilts. The final quilt was the last thing she embroidered. Just like that it was gone from her mind like it was never there.
I'm thankful she's still here with us for a little while longer. I'm thankful she still laughs and sings like she used to. I still get glimpses of the real her here and there. God reveals Himself every time she plays the piano and sings hymns. It's a miracle.
Whenever I embroider, I think of her. I think of how talented she was. I don't think she ever gave herself enough credit. She was the ultimate homemaker. I'm so thankful we had time together for her to teach me what she knew about homemaking before she forgot. I have so many special memories baking with her. We made pumpkin pie together each Thanksgiving. She encouraged me to learn to play the piano and even played a couple duets with me at my recitals. She taught me how to set a Christmas table. She let me walk around in her heels to practice. She helped me try on her jewelry and fabulous hats. She taught me to embroider. I love how these skills and memories she's passed down to me help me remember who she was before her mind betrayed her. And I smile.
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