Anniversaries: Good & Bad

Where were you at this time last year?

This question has been all over social media this week. Like other terrifying world events, nearly everyone can recall where they were last year when the WHO declared the international pandemic official. Where were you? What were you doing? How has it affected your life?

If you’ve been following me for a while then you know I was totally preoccupied with my son’s diagnosis of stage 4 lymphoma. As we navigated his care, we could see health care protocols tightening and services being cancelled as they concentrated their efforts on treating COVID 19 cases. My son was one of the "lucky" ones as his chemo went forward. Today he is cancer-free.

But what if I look past 2020 and into the previous years?

This week in 2019 my YouTube channel was just picking up steam when I posted 10 Sewing Hacks from the Dollar Store. Not only was it fun to make, but viewers also seem to enjoy it as much as I did. With YouTube, I had found my groove.

3 years ago in March 2018, I posted my first video The Economy Block-Three Different Ways, Three Different Sizes. At the time I was VP of the Toronto Modern Quilt Guild and in charge of the Block Lotto. I had recently received a selfie stick and thought I could make a video. How hard could it be? LOL. It was 3 weeks of intense learning as I quickly realized that I knew nothing about video making.

4 years ago in March 2017, I had just returned from my first Quiltcon in Savannah with my brain just bursting with ideas and plans. Within days, jumped on the LONG TIME GONE Quilt-along with Gnome Angel. And then I started my English paper pieced New Hexagon Millefiore Quilt. I said to myself it would be a 5-year project. And I’m now sewing the rosettes together and hope to be done by the end of the year.

5 years ago in March 2016, I had just taken my first longarm class and became involved in my first charity quilt project. I applied what I learned and quilted up a storm for the first Syrian refugees arriving in Toronto. The experience made me value quilts beyond my own enjoyment of making them. And that they carry love and warmth wherever they go.

6 years ago in March 2015, I was trying to pull the blocks of my first sampler quilt together. I thought I had done all the hard work and found out pretty quickly how tricky putting blocks together could be. All the mistakes of the sampler blocks compounded but somehow it all works out in the end. Though I hated the fabrics by the time I finished, I still love seeing them when I make the bed.

And 10 years ago I was skiing. There was a time before quilting when March was our family vacation at various ski hills. For the past 3 years, we have wanted to do it again. Unfortunately, life and the world had other plans.

What a crazy journey life can be. Yes, last year was hard, but I’m so fortunate that my son is okay. Though I imagined being on vacation in the Netherlands last year, I’m glad I had my Just Get It Done Community to create videos for. As quilters, we tend to be perfectionists, making sure our seams nest and we iron the correct way, but much like life, things don’t always go as planned. Though this past year was a doozy, I’m ready for whatever comes next.