Dear Reader Column 05-09-06

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Dear Reader,

"My Grandma needs a new sewing machine! Sewing machine! Sewing machine! My Grandma needs a new sewing machine!"

My husband had our grandchildren worked up into a frenzy. They were visiting over spring vacation and one of the activities I'd gotten Bailey, my granddaughter, interested in was sewing. I didn't come right out and ask her if she wanted to sew a quilt. That sounded kind of boring, even to me, and I like to sew. Instead I bought some flashy material that I thought might catch an 11 year-old girl's eye: fuzzy purple and pink satin with glittery gold flecks. But when we started sewing, my machine broke down. It wasn't unexpected. My sewing machine is constantly breaking down. Usually if I tinker with it a bit, I can get it going again, but not this time.

My husband suggested that we simply go to the store and buy a new one, but that wasn't a comforting suggestion. A new sewing machine? I'd have to read a manual, learn how to use all the buttons and gadgets--give me a few more minutes, and I'll get this thing going.

My machine is over 20 years old and it was cool to be sewing with such a nostalgic machine. I didn't want a new machine. This one had a lot of memories. Nostalgia is cool, but after another 30 minutes, the nostalgic feeling was overrated and my granddaughter was starting to lose interest.

All the way to the store, my husband was coaching the grandkids. "Now, when we get in the store and the clerk asks us what we need, or if she says, 'May I help you?' we yell, really loud, 'My Grandma needs a new sewing machine!'"

Saved from embarrassment, because there weren't any helpful clerks around, and a $179.90 later, I had a new sewing machine. Thirty minutes after we got home, Bailey and I were back working on her quilt.

I have to admit, my husband's chant was right: this grandma needed a new sewing machine and she should have bought one years ago.

To see the quilt that Bailey and I made go to:

http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/quilt2.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Sample The Bachelor Preferred Pastry, by Shirley Jump. Enter the free book giveaway. I have 25 copies for readers. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master2/mweb/path5-1.html

Comments

[Jean Colson]

Suzanne -- what a delightful time it must have been, constructing that darling quilt with your GORGEOUS granddaughter. I'm GREEN with envy as I only have a "grandcat" who has expressed no interest whatsoever in doing such activities...

Thanks for sharing.

Jean the Queen (of Laundry)
Bradenton, FL