A few quiet minutes...

spent doing something creative is for me, really soothing. On a day when I feel scattered or discombobulated, spending a few minutes doing something as simple as contemplating different patterns and colours helps me sit still, at least in my head. On Sunday I pulled out these embroidery frames and a few fat quarters - leftover fabric that measures about 18" by 22" -  I bought last spring. I didn't figure out what print I wanted to go where until yesterday, but just spending a few minutes handling these things felt really good on a day when sadness was kind of hard to shake. I lived in NYC on 9/11 and though I always want to take pains to clarify that I didn't lose anyone, nor was I close with anyone who did, it was a profoundly sad, life-altering experience. It's not something I think of every day, but I didn't expect how much the memories of that day, the subsequent weeks and months and the chain of events it set off would come thundering back. It does make me remember how lucky I am and how much I have, just by the very fact that I'm here. That life is short and I can't assume I have forever to live the life I want to live. (And ya, I forget that too often!) The point is, just some quiet time spent contemplating creating something felt very, very nice.