Here I am after 3 weeks of flying, driving, worrying, crying and being responsible.  I did fly home where Kathy, my sister from Atlanta, met me. I opened my door at 8:30 Thursday, January 4 and she opened my door at 8:35.  Mom experienced Internal bleeding acerbated by Xarelto.  Mom went from ICU to hospital to nursing home to ER to Hospice House.  Mom passed away Tuesday, January 23.  It has been 3 weeks I can only compare to the time after 9/11 when I was unable to concentrate enough to read.  When I first got home, I couldn't eat, I couldn't read and I COULDN'T KNIT!  I can honestly say  there has never been a time when I couldn't find comfort in knitting.  I also couldn't find the words to post on Knitting: A Love Story.  After a week, the knitting was the first thing to come back, then reading, then eating somewhat but I still couldn't find the words to express my sadness.  

I thought I could trick myself into becoming excited about knitting by bringing out some beautiful fiber I have been saving for a special occasion.  That really didn't work.  All it did was make me sad.  When I finally picked up knitting again, it wasn't something new and exciting, it was an old favorite which I love and feel very comfortable with.

Here is my 10 Stitch Zig Zag Afghan made out of the reclaimed Noro Silk Garden.  It fit my need to a "T."  It is beautiful, I love the yarn, I don't need a pattern or sticky note to know where I am.  AND it full fills my "Year Of The Closer" theme.  

Mom's funeral is Saturday and I will be back in full swing some time next week.  Thank you for your kind words, thoughtfulness and patience.  See you next week.

Last night my wonderful Mom in Michigan was taken to the ER and this morning to ICU.  I tried to fly home today, but all flights leaving Myrtle Beach were cancelled do to Winter Storm Grayson.  I have a flight tomorrow.  Keep your fingers crossed that I can get home.  I will be concentrating on my Mom for a while.  I will be back to Knitting: A Love Story as soon as I can.  Put Mom in your thoughts and prayers.

Here I am on New Year's Day, at our condo, in Sunset Beach with Dick and Tess drinking a little wine.  It doesn't get any better than that!  I reflected on my knitting of 2017 last night and felt euphoric.  It was a fabulous year.  I felt proud and accomplished and nostalgic.  I remembered how I felt when I set my goals for 2917.  The more I wrote, the more excited I became.  There was one point where I thought I was going to hyperventilate.  How I started the year and ended the year were very aligned.  Or were they!?!?!?!?!

I decided to review my goals and bask in my accomplishments.  I set 7 goals and much to my surprise, I only achieved 1.  I did not use my Kureyon green and black yarn.  I did not knit with my Why Knot Knit alpaca.  I did not knit the Snood Forest.  I did not knit the Shock Wave shawl.  I did not knit with the beautiful lace yarn.  I did not knit a Stephen West Doodler.  I did knit with the fabulous Madelintosh Electric Rainbow.  Why, might you ask, do I feel so good, no not just good but euphoric about 2017?????  I think it was making 2017 "My Year Of Selfish Knitting."  How can you be disappointed when every day you are knitting exactly what you want to knit every day!?!?!?!  How can you be disgruntled when you are knitting only with fibers and colors you love with patterns that have the WOW factor?  You can't!  Here are some of the beautiful things that brought me joy this year. 

And that is just a part of my 2017 accomplishments  Is there any question about this being an exciting year of knitting?  I knit many fabulous patterns with many gorgeous fibers.  It was great.  I did learn one important thing:  If you set goals you should at least look at them a few times during the year.  I am just so proud that I made a list (which I love doing), didn't do much on the list and still feel very proud.  

Now for 2018. What are my goals for this year?

1.  This will be My Year Of Selfish Knitting, Part 2.  I think this is just going to become the way I roll.  I am going to live my knitting life according to the principals of My Year Of Selfish Knitting.  How can something that brought me so much joy not be an every day part of my life!!!!! I was very vocal about MYOSK everywhere and with everyone I know who knits.  Do you know what happened? People didn't ask me to knit things.  They knew I was only knitting things that brought me joy, soooo.....  I didn't have to either say "no" and feel like a scrooge or begrudgingly say "yes" and hate every minute.  People were very respectful and a little intrigued by my commitment.  

2.  This will also be The Year Of The Closure.  I am going to go through my tubs and either finish UFO's or frog them.  Just think of all of the new yarn I will have to knit with!!!!!! I must admit, I don't have a clue about what is in the tubs except for a Kauni faire isle sweater that I can't wait to finish.  This may also be called The Year of My Great Adventure.

3.  I am going to admit that spontaneity in knitting is what floats my boat. I am going to remain a Pinterest addict and when I see something I love, I am not going to abandon it for something on a list.  

At the end of 2018, my success will be measured by my joy not by how many things I have checked off my list.  Maybe 2018 bring you Joy, happiness and satisfaction and may every knitting project add to the joy.  A Happy 2018 to all of my Knitting: A Love Story readers.