coat hanger ugly :: retro crafting

I love that scene in

Ratatouille

where the food critic

after sampling the ratatouille

travels back in time

in his mind

to when he was a child

eating a bowlful of his

mothers stew.

Like that.

Food has the ability to trigger

memories.

As do scents and fragrances.

A song.

And apparently

crafts.

Before my sister's family

relocated to Pittsburgh

we visited her

and the fun shops of Noblesville

one

last 

time.

While there I spotted a vintage

shirt that had

disco fun written all over it!

My boys were repulsed

by it...

which encouraged me to want it

all the more.

It was like five dollars.

Seriously

I had to have it.

When I took it to the counter

much to my boys chagrin

I noticed the hanger

from which it hung

You know...

one of those 

old crochet covered hangers

with variegated acrylic yarn...

that I know I

made back in the seventies.

This particular one

was the genuine article.

Sadly

it was not included with the purchase.

But the seed was planted.

Coincidentally

when the sisters

were hanging (excuse the pun)

around the table

leafing through magazines...

something we do

there was an article entitled something like

ugly vintage crafts updated.

Guess what was a feature?

Yep...

the crocheted hanger!

It was destiny.

I have no idea why  that project

made its way into 

my brain this morning...

but it did.

So I got busy.

Playing with cotton yarn.

Letting my mind travel back to

my kid-hood.

It was like muscle memory.

I whipped that baby up in 

less than an hour.

Now I'm reliving

a time where

wide lapels

and a groovy pattern

Just 

felt

good.

Who knows where this may lead?

Macrame

Decoupage

String art?

Which will take me down 

the road of

Tuna casserole

Root beer floats

Bologna sandwiches 

with Campbell's Tomato Soup

While listening to

Perry Como (my family totally gets this!)

Elton John

The Beatles.

It may be ugly

but I'm totally diggin' it!

What was your crafting passion

in the

60's... 70's...80's?

Give it another run...

you'll be amazed at where it 

will take you.

be yourself

Words of advice.

It's part of our job description

as parents.

The instilling and sharing of wisdom

that takes years

since

let's face it

we are still stumbling and learning ourselves.

When situations arrive

and we scramble

and pray

pray

and

pray some more!

that we have done enough

to equip our child

for the road ahead.

As a precaution

we begin

the reiteration process...

review 

just to make sure we have

done our job well

crossed our t's

dotted our i's

(thus far)

Somehow knowing we've done really well

and at the same time

completely

screwed up.

Firm handshake

polite words

say thank you

stand tall

look who's talking to you in the eyes

...

you know the list.

Quickly followed by the

parental assessment process

basically 

voicing our concerns

and foibles

with each other

hoping we did something

right vs.

permanently damaged.

Hard core parental stuff.

Finally...

just getting on with it...

life that is

our regular day

hoping to restore calm

put our minds at an ease.

breathe.

After taking the garbage to the road

Rudy saw something

that he wanted me to see

It spoke to him

like a nod and a wink

that purple flower among all the gold

it spoke of individuality

standing out

not just standing among

being true to who you are

"being yourself"

because that person is

so freaking amazing.

It spoke to him of

Joey.

Who is completely sure

and unsure

of who he is.

Secure and insecure.

Confident and apprehensive.

Typical and unique.

Reassured 

by a flower

in that the words we kept 

returning to...

be yourself

will take him far.

"Do not be conformed to this world."

Rom 12:2

like e.t. and elliot

that symbiotic relationship

that by definition

if I remember correctly from
homeschool biology

involves two different species

who depend on each other

sometimes to sustain life.

Okay,

so maybe not that

but close.

That psychological connection

is what I'm getting at.

Remember when E.T. would feel

what Elliot was feeling

and vice-versa?

Yeah...that.

Some might call it

a mother-son bond.

Of course

I feel that connection with all my boys

but

some of my guys are more vocal

and will confide all

they are going through.

Not Joe.

He's more private and quiet.

That strong silent type

that'll keep you guessing.

When we explored

The Catcher in the Rye

this past year

Joe declared it his favorite book.

For those who know nothing about its history

(not referring to the crazy associations

that the Internet has spawned )

it is quite simply a novel about

Holden Caufield

a young man who is at that

pivotal point in life

torn between adolescence and adulthood.

Joe related strongly.

Isn't that always the precursor

to loving a book?

In a world where kids

grow-up fast...

Joe was happily rooted in 

childhood.

Don't get me wrong

I saw the changes he was going through

the eagerness to accept more responsibility

the willingness to try new things

and explore the world

that fidgetiness I've witnessed in my teen boys

that screams out

"I want more"

but

change is a tripping stone for many.

Joe among them.

Count me in

too.

But it is inevitable.

Now Joe would challenge that statement

with a

why?

Celebrating his eighteenth year

was a quiet family event.

Graduating from High School

passed equally so

as Joe told me

he didn't think it was 

deserving of a big party.

(Mom still disagrees

but will honor his wishes)

This has been a long

introduction

to the point of this post.

This past week

Joe's big bro Josh

came over with some news.

The construction company he

 (and his Uncle Doug...cousins Gabe and Matt)

works at

OCP

wondered if he'd be interested in a job.

Although he didn't say it 

as I was jumping up and down

no 

was written all over his face.

Understand...

he doesn't shy away from hard work.

He loves physical challenges.

He also loves his free

easy-going

lifestyle

that allows him to stay up until

sunrise

playing PS games

waking at 3ish

(yep...that's p.m.)

and 

helping around the house...

Oh, and he does...

a lot!

A life that allows him to

play when he wants

and work when he wants.

Side jobs and scrapping part-time

had been serving him well.

But I did see 

something else.

A teetering.

A glimpse that had him wondering

what it would be like

heavily sprinkled with

I like things the way they are.

Fear of the unknown.

This job is a full-time position.

My stomach started to cramp.

My heart raced a bit.

I BEGAN HAVING DIGESTIVE ISSUES.

Coincidentally

so did Joe.

We are suffering together

as we navigate through the

firsts.

We've survived the 

first day at the office

for safety tests

paper work

I'm sure a bit of teasing encouragement

from Uncle Doug

and

drug testing.

Today is his first

official day

on the job

where he will be doing grunt work

mixing mud

hoisting 

lifting

climbing scaffolding 8 stories high...

he can't wait for that part!

Meanwhile

my stomach hurts.

Maneuvering the twists and turns

of these monumental moments...

first day

 first week

first month

as we make our way to normal

(for us, anyway)

and feel the

release

with that 

first

payroll check.

"E.T. phone home!"

Being mom.

It never gets easier.

5th row

That's what I'm talking about

right there.