Quilt, Perdu
(3 of 50)
I just need a small space here to grieve publically over something that has been lost to me. I thought I would get over it by now, but I haven’t. Writing might help.
Starting just after I separated from my husband, I started making a patchwork quilt for my son. I hoped to have it done for his 10th birthday. Time being what it is and all, it was shortly before his 11th bday I finally got the top and back done. Then I got a bat and pin basted the whole thing. About that time, my dad and brother had died, and I lost momentum. I was starting to pack up for a move, and lamented the quilt to some friends.
One of them made me an offer, which was most gracious. A quilter owed her a favor, and so she would just take care of the quilting. It involved sending the box across the country, and that was one of my Things To Do in the rush to pack and move.
Hoping to give it to my son for his 12th birthday, I aniticipated getting the quilt for Christmas, just after? in time for birthday? but was told that it wasn’t quite ready. So, patiently I wait. Finally, “it’s in the mail”! YAY! I make arrangements for someone to watch for its delivery while I was out of town….
No quilt. No box. No nothing. No word.
I inquire. The PO lost it? That’s all I have heard. Not sure if there was insurance or delivery confirmation. There are no good answers, no answers really. This entry is not to say anything about my friend – but to simply mourn this loss. And I’m heartbroken. All the love and energy I put into that… all the memories in the fabrics I used. Perhaps it is my fault that I loaded it up with too much memory. I am having a hard time getting over losing the thing. I have a fairly detailed tactile and sensory memory, and I can feel the fabric in my fingers still…
There are a few leftover squares, and I’m going to locate those today, and start over on something for him. Maybe that will help - replace the thing, transfer the love to a new thing. Maybe I have enough for a body pillow cover. My son understands the loss, but I think it is a greater loss for me than for him. That’s a good thing.
Here is the Flickr set for the quilt, perdu.