I fogot to mention!

I know I've mentioned our wonderful neighbors before, but I have a special thanks today to our lovely neighbor and friend, Conchita Gimenez.

Conchita is an amazingly talented crocheter (is that a word?). She actually crochets lace curtains! I look at it and am in total amazement. I can't imagine ever doing anything of that quality. I've done a little embroidery, needlepoing and simple crochet, but nothing that comes even within a country mile of Conchita's work.

For years, I've been carrying an old crocheted afghan around with me. It was made by my great-grandmother, so has to be close to one-hundred-years-old. It is made of wool, and let's just say that time has not been kind to it. It's the kind of afghan made out of squares, and most of the squares were coming apart. The edging was worn out and torn off in places. It was a sad, sad piece of family memorabilia.

But I've kept it because there's something so wonderful about having a handmade piece of family history, even if it is stored in a plastic bag on a dark shelf in the closet.

I bought some green yarn and took it over to Conchita's house to see if she could teach me how to fix it. Instead, she offered to do it herself. Less than two weeks after she started, she brought it back to me yesterday. It's absolutely amazing! It looks brand new, as if it had never been damaged at all.

I know how difficult it was for her to repair. Certainly, just seeing what she was doing can't have been easy. As I sit here now, looking at it, I'm touched beyond words at her kindness. I don't think I can every truly thank her enough for repairing this small piece of my family's past. It is one of the finest things anyone has ever done for me.

Thank you, my dear Conchita!

Ciao for now.

Randy