Victory is Mine

A completed needlepoint canvas for a Halloween bracelet. Sounds so innocent. This UFO gave me a temporary case of OCD. I needed it to be done this week and sent to the finisher to be made into a leather lined cuff bracelet, if it is to be worn this year. Even though today was date night, or in our case, date morning (the early bird special discount at the movies 6am showing only), even though there were more cookies to be baked, laundry to be done , dinner with all the dishes,and the other countless little chores of the day (not the date, of course), I was determined to be done. One movie, 2 dozen cookies (molasses crisps, yum), a lovely dinner , 2 loads of laundry, three broken needles later and some very sore fingers, victory was mine! Ah, success...

While proudly showing my husband the canvas that he has seen hundreds of times, he asked how many other projects I had left to go. This blithe indifference to my feelings gave me pause. How many were there really?

My philosophy towards projects is a bit like my attitude in life. There is always more to come! It is good to always have happy things to look forward to. Vacations planned, concerts, the next knitting convention, and of course, projects. It helps balance out life's little hills and valleys. Except at the end. I imagine my priorities will differ then. Therefore realistically, when I die most likely there will be plenty of UFOs left. Can we ever resolve every conflict? Give closure to our loved ones? Cancel every subscription? Forward our mail to the after life? Then it stands to reason there will be lots of yarn and stitching to be buried with me. We all know that you can't take it with you, so why do I see an over sized coffin bursting with bits of brightly colored yarns that my husband keeps stuffing in?

It's the start of a new week. With it the start of a new project. Sorting through my stash to give away some of the yarn I once lusted for but now see only as an albatross around my neck. Why not let some one else have those skeins, that will love them as I once did? A renewal, a rebirth, or at least, a cleaner closet. My tastes have changed with the passing years. My interest in stitching has changed with it in some cases. Time to let go. Then I can get a reliable count of my UFOs, not that I would share that number with my husband.

As in stitching, life always has quite a few UFOs to sorted through also. The hunt for meaningful employment continues. I have been wondering if I am so driven to get a job because the new hand painted canvas I ordered has come in? Or is it the glass class I signed on for next week? No matter. My second project is to seek out and infiltrate a company that will fund my fun through gainful employment. I expect a busy week.