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Sarah's Quilt
Sometimes we need to reflect on the impact we have on the lives of others.... in unsuspecting ways... in unexpected moments.... just from being in the right place at the right time...
About a year ago, a small group of women came in to Shiisa Quilts.... a mom with her soon-to-be 17-year-old daughter, Sarah, and her grandmother. Mom and Grandma were excited because they were heading for their annual quilting retreat – and this would be the first year that Sarah would join them – for her 17th birthday. Sarah and her mom and grandmother, along with assorted aunts, would make a quilt for Sarah. How wonderful!!
Sarah, however, did not look thrilled. She had chosen a pattern, but really had no interest in choosing fabric – and I just got the feeling that she wasn't as excited about this quilting retreat as the others were.
Sullen... texting.... I could just imagine what she was texting to her friends... “yeah... I'm at this stupid fabric shop with my mom and grandma....”
Her Mom was frustrated... probably embarrassed by her daughter's behavior... I remember what that was like when my kids were teenagers.... and I especially remember that feeling of “what is this other adult going to think about me... and my kid...”
So we chatted a bit about what Mom and Grandma had in mind – and Sarah kept on texting..... and answering the occasional question with mono-syllabic responses....
I looked at Sarah and said, “Looks to me like this isn't your idea of a good time.” “It's not.”
I can't really remember what happened next.... but I remember encouraging Sarah to just find some fat quarters that she might like to use... and to not worry about whether they “went with” each other... pretty soon she had a stack of wonderful prints by wonderful designers.... Kaffe Fassett, Laura Gunn, Pamela Mostek, Phillip Jacobs, Teri Mangat, Nobu Fujiyama.... and more.... we paired some up, and Sarah was fearless about combining colors and designs.... Shiisa Quilts staff tossed a few of their favorites into the mix, and Sarah was decisive about what she liked and didn't like. I truly don't remember where Mom and Grandma were during this process....
We spent probably an hour choosing fabric... Sarah was engaged and animated... and I hadn't seen her phone come out of her pocket in quite awhile. I'm not sure she was any happier about heading off for the retreat, but at least the quilt was going to be something that she had been actively involved in planning.
so.... why am I writing about this a year later?
Today, two women came into the shop with a “show and tell” quilt.... I didn't recognize them, but the younger woman said, “about a year ago, I brought my daughter in.... and I wanted to thank you for helping her... ” As they opened this beautiful quilt, the memory of that day came flooding back....
Sarah loves her beautiful quilt! She didn't come in today because tonight she's performing in West Side Story for Sounds of South. I hope she notices that one of the very proud sponsors for tonight's show is Shiisa Quilts....
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