DISCOVERING CROSS STITCHING

I can't remember how old I was when I began, but I do know that I was married to my second husband. (I've only had 4 so unlike Elizabeth Taylor I can still keep count.)

I had to go across the street and complain to the neighbor about the behavior of her daughter again. That was a usual occurrence just about every day. None of us, including her parents, knew that she had a brain tumor that was causing her to behave that way. Sadly, by the time it was found it was too late and she died.
But this particular day I discovered her mother working on a beautiful piece of stitching that fascinated me. So much so that I forgot I had gone there to complain once again about her daughter.

I asked questions about how it was done, the materials needed etc. She showed me her floss collection. It was like looking at a box of beautiful jewels. I was hooked.

Prior to this I had never had an interest in any kind of needle work. Actually I was the one who flunked the sewing part of Home Economics in school. But I went to the store and bought what I needed for my first project, all the materials. The pattern book was Norman Rockewells. I started on a pastoral scene with a boy, a girl and their dog in a pretty nature setting. It didn't last long. Lesson number one for a beginner at cross stitching............pick a simple uncomplicated pattern.

Crossing the street once more, this time to ask about stitching, not to complain about the daughter's behavior. The girl's mother gave me a simple pattern that to this day I can't remember what it was. We sat down together to stitch and I was thrilled to find I could actually do it.

During this time her daughter came in and sat down with us. Somehow the conversation turned to her behavior and how it was upsetting the neighbors and why she didn't have any friends to play with. I can't truly say her behavior changed, but she did try to behave as much as the brain tumor would let her. I also found a gentle way of reprimanding when the behavior got really bad.

It is a sad day when a parent loses a child, particularly when they've had to punish a child for behavior that was caused by a medical condition. I not only learned a new craft, but I also learned to look at children behaving badly in a new light. I tried to be much more tolerant and patient.

I often wonder what that little girl's life would have been if the tumor had been discovered in time to save her life. Her name was Laura.