Many Paths, Many Directions...

I haven’t written in the blog for a long time because 1) I’ve not had any time, and 2) I’ve been concerned about the purpose of this blog.

It started out as a blog about knitting and massage therapy, but the entries have wandered a bit, much like my life. I wonder if I should change the title and description of it.

It’s more about what I’m doing, and less of an “advice” or “educational” or “informational” tool. It’s more about how I’m coping with the things I’m doing, what I’m learning from those things. So, yes...the blog is a work in progress. What else is new??

As I mentioned before, I recently took up a position of “Volunteer Manager” at the Irving Park Community Food Pantry. I really love the work, and as it's been foretold, it would be a little rocky for a while, but I’d soon get the hang of it. How true!

Last week was the beginning of the Easter Basket Distribution for Pantry kids, and there were some serious worries about whether or not there’d be enough supplies to fill the baskets. That worked out though. On that same day, there was scheduled a large group from a local elementary school visiting, about 34 children—all 4th grade and younger—and 20 moms, and all expecting to work. The challenge was what to do with all of these people when you already have a staff of 30 working, and it’s the first week of the month, which means more clients will come in than any other time of the month?

As Vinnie Barbarino once said, “We’re gonna die!!”

When I received the number of 54 additional volunteers, it happened to be the Friday before the big day. This gave us a weekend to figure out what to do. Thank God for the Three Brothers Garden—which supplies produce for the pantry during the summer months. Thank God it’s April, because it’s time to start working on the garden! I made a desperate call to the folks at the Carlson Community Services and asked them if there was work to do at the garden and luckily there was: Clean up, raking and flattening out the dirt beds. That took care of 20 people from the 54.

This left 23 children and 13 moms for the pantry. I remember as I was standing on the floor of the pantry amidst all the noise and hustle and bustle, the incessant mantra going through my mind was “Think think think, Lee—think outside the box—what can be done? What needs to be done around here? Think think think!”

Somehow, there was plenty to do. Everyone had work to do. One child and his mom sorted through all the school supplies we collected since last summer. Several kids and their moms filled up and distributed Easter Baskets. A couple of boys and a mom continually took empty cut-up boxes to the recycling bins. Some kids and moms did crowd control, helped clients with their groceries, sorted through the frozen meat, put together double-bags for the food, some handed out numbers for the clients…it was amazing. I couldn’t believe we pulled it off!

I should have known that this job wouldn’t be easy. I haven’t even really sat down alone and thought about what my goals are for the volunteers yet. I haven’t had time to think about what the long-term purpose is for them, and how to streamline and make this job more efficient. I’d like to get to a point where there’s less of “putting out fires,” and more of a procedure, something calmer…but I’m new. There’s a learning curve, and I’m at the bottom right now.

I also finished my first newsletter with the West Walker Civic Association. I have to admit…that was fun. I was nervous about picking up layout after so many years out of the business, and especially learning a new program. I’m so used to Quark, but now we’re using InDesign. Obviously it’s like riding a bike. You never forget, and no matter how many types of design software there is out there…they’re all basically the same.

In the back of my mind, during all of this, I’m thinking about that Art Invitational next November. I can picture in my mind a table, covered with beautiful knitted garments and accessories. That’s my goal. Whenever I have a free moment, I’m knitting. I’m almost done with the capelet. Started a new scarf with the same yarn used for the capelet. Worried that I don’t have enough yarn for my basketweave wrap (maybe it will be a cowl). Thinking ahead for other projects to make and sell. I get excited about it.

Next week, I’ll be giving chair massages at my husband’s company. I’m also working at the Pantry. I’m also taking two of my volunteers to a training session at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. My gym trainer is supposed to call me whenever a time opens up so I can work out, because as it is—there’s no time to work out next week. In addition, my daughter and I are facing a new road for her. She’s going to register for a new school next year. She is eager to leave her old school where she has been for almost 9 years. She says she wants to meet new people, go to a new and different place. She’s ready for a big change, she says. It’s very exciting for her, somewhat scary, and also somewhat sad. As we get closer to the end of the school year, she tells me about some of her classmates, kids she runs into in the halls, in recess, at lunchtime. She describes the jokes, the conversations, their different personal characteristics, idiosyncrasies…sometimes she moans and complains, but then she almost always laughs, and then she smiles, and I can tell she really knows these kids. She’s known them so well for years, and she will miss these boys and girls.

I can’t believe Faith is almost 12 years old.

Meanwhile, I put off the massage I was supposed to get for myself a few weeks ago. Not good. I haven’t followed my own advice. I’ve been giving massages, but not receiving. Strangely, my body feels okay. I don’t ache, I’m not particularly tired. I do need stress relief though. I need to not think about anything for 1 week. Actually, both my husband, and my kids need to unwind. We’re going back to Captiva soon and it’s just what we need. I can’t think of a better way to welcome the summer. Just when the cold packs its last bag to leave, we visit a place where all the flowers are in bloom, the smell of saltwater is in the air. Every day, the sun is out, warm on my skin. Everyone’s dressed in bright, colorful clothes, walking outside, riding bikes, swimming in the water. There’s time to get that massage. And when we return, we’ll be ready to get back to work and do the things we are meant to do!