February 18, 2007

Show and Tell, Grownup Edition

We had such a great time tonight at Princeton Friends' Meeting 3rd Sunday Gathering! We invited friends from our community to come prepared for "grownup show and tell," and of course the range and depth of folks' interests was absolutely inspiring. Little folks D and Z from the Beginning School showed us how it was done, but the real "meat of the order" came once the grownups took center stage.

Nancy taught herself tatting from a book, and showed off a number of other hand-crafted crocheted or knitted items that were greeted with appreciative "oohs and ahhs." Lenora has been working magic with polymer clay for over fifteen years and has such a deft touch that folks keep wondering if it's enamel, or possibly miniature painting. Weedie's album of her family's annual Christmas cards was a fabulous chronicle of both her family's life and the times. Judith shared some hand-dyed fabrics as well as handmade beads, quilting, a remarkable cloth bowl, and some amazing knitting that incorporated both cloth and yarn. Robert played his Japanese end-blown Shakuhachi flute, which I think we all could have fallen into a trance listening to. Tim played a modern penny whistle and waxed rhapsodic about English country dancing and its happy role in his life. Kate had us all asking when we could please come visit she and her husband's model train layout. Sally sat modestly knitting a blanket that we finally got her to hold up so that we could admire it. And Allen had us absolutely falling out laughing with tales from his and Susan's years of keeping and hand-shearing sheep. I'm probably even forgetting someone.

People are especially beautiful when lit from within by a love of what they're talking about. Whoever decided that Show and Tell should be relegated to the 7-and-under set was dead wrong. Everyone should have this kind of chance to share their interests with others.

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