Knitting through trauma

OK fine I admit it. When D was laid up with his break in 2016, I thought once or twice to myself, "If that was me I would get so much knitting done." 

Wrong, wrong, you're so wrong past me! Turns out trauma and then surgery trauma does not equal good knitting time. The week prior to surgery all I did was get myself to and from the bathroom, try to find a comfortable position for my leg and fret about my first surgery. Knitting peeps D was very clear on who has dibs on the stash. Although he said he would keep some as a reminder of me.

When I went to the hospital I did not even bring knitting with me. I know you should always have an emergency supply with you at all times, but it seemed like I had so much stuff. I didn't pack a suitcase. I just had an over the shoulder bag that D brought back from one of his New Mexico trips. This thing is my new best friend. I should show it to you one of these days. 

But honestly you're so focused on just healing and what comes next that you don't have any brain power to spare. And lord knows all energy is spent on knitting bones, not yarn. 

Then I had a week post op that went well but really I just had yarn near me that I could pet and look at but knitting? Meh. I know I was a bit worried too.

After that week my brain fog started to lift and I finished a couple of first socks that were almost done to begin with. Then I thought about finally knitting some vacation yarn into a shawl. I searched and searched for a good pattern. Something easy for my brain to not concentrate on. Sure enough I was knitting again. And it felt good, ever so good. 

I saw the doctor again had my stitches removed and got a fancy boot. I was feeling bad about how much time I had taken off. I went back to work part time. Whew, going to work is hard. Trying to balance recovery and work expectations is hard. Then a pandemic finally got to us. Now I am working from home and much more comfortable. I would never have wished this on the world but it did make it just a bit easier to do my job. I am safer and happier at home. 

I wish this pandemic had not happened but I hope all of us can learn from it and make ourselves stronger because of it. I hope the devastation, loss, and hopelessness leaves us quickly. I hope that we can pick up our knitting and be happy once again.