Making of a Memory

This weekend, I finally got started on the Memorial quilt for my father-in-law, who recently passed.  Here’s the pile:

I come from a very small family.  My husband comes from a mind-bendingly large family.  I have always leaned toward the slightly introverted, large-groups-scare-me, sort of mentality.  He, naturally, given his background, thrives in large group situations- and being one of 8 brothers & 1 sister, the more raucous, the better.  Talk about my yin to his yang (yeah, I know, I said “his yang” <giggle>). 

So, especially during this time of crisis, and with SO many helping hands involved, I had been struggling to figure out what could little ol’ me possibly do that would help? I’m not a “jump in there & take charge” kind of gal, but more of the “deer caught in headlights, mouth slightly agape” variety.  But I had been thinking about my own dad, and everything my mom was going through: all the paperwork, sorting through his things, throwing away a lot, donating a lot.  I thought how sad to just get rid of his clothing, the stuff that kept him warm, touched his skin, the stuff that was unmistakeably, totally identifiably, his.  And so the idea for a memorial quilt was born.

I know I’m not the first person to come up with this idea, and I know our families don’t need quilts to keep the memories of our dads alive.  But it is, albeit somewhat selfish, my way of contributing, and it helps me to feel like I am doing something, at a time when you feel so helpless.  I am just so ecstatic, honored, and lucky to work on these quilts, and I know that would make both our dads happy.

I’ll be posting the progress of the quilt(s) in the future…