Today I went to my favorite hairstylist, Lisa, and had a highlight, cut, and style. Over the years we have become good friends, she was a neighbor of my Mom and Dad's and was a true and loving friend to them as well. We always have a good visit, catching up on our families, and neighbors in the old neighborhood. Lisa has her shop in an assisted living center - a natural place for her. She loves the ladies and gents so.
I didn't know that today, I was in for and extra treat. As I was leaving, there was a lovely lady sitting at the entrance of the facility knitting her little heart out. I could tell that she was a long time knitter, speeding through the row and watching as others entered and left the building. I also noticed that she knit in a way I had only seen one other person knit, holding her right hand under the needle and guiding it around the yarn and through the stitch. The first time I ever saw this technique, the lady was in a knitting class I taught. She shared that an Irish Nun had taught her to knit while she was in parocial school. On a whim I spun around and slid into the seat next to her, and said that I had noticed the way she was knitting. By any chance had she been taught to knit by someone Irish?
She told me no, that she was English and had learned to knit when she was four. In just those few words I could hear that beautiful English accent and told her so. She then continued on saying that she was English but had in fact she been born in India. Her father was a British Soldier and she lived in India until a trip to see relatives in 1939. Her father had wanted to take them to visit family in England before things escalated and they wouldn't be able to travel. The day that they arrived in London the war began. Her father left to fight and her mother and sister stayed in London until the bombs began to fall in the city. Her mother's brother then opened his home in Plymouth to the three ladies. He assured them that they would be safe in Plymouth and would not be in harms way so far from London. Shortly after they arrived in Plymouth the arms depot was bombed.
Elizabeth, the name of this lovely lady, was beginning to get warmed up....later she and her sister got married on the same day to brothers. And as they were leaving on their honeymoon her father took them both aside and said that when they got back from the honeymoon to come and visit - he had a surprise for them. Elizabeth asked if he was going to the United States of America, and he responded, "How did you know? Yes!" Shortly after her parents arrived in America, they contacted the newlyweds and other family members saying, "Save your pennies. This is the perfect place for you."
Elizabeth, family, friends and acquaintances crossed over the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth. Her Mother and Father lived in New York but the acquaintances moved on to California and soon Elizabeth and her husband were told, "This is the perfect place for you." So off they went to California.
It was nearly a perfect place for them but her first husband began seeing other women, "I know, so unlike an Englishman." and they divorced. Her first husband would take their two children every other weekend. Elizabeth called the acquaintance, Sid, who had originally told the couple to come to California. She asked Sid if she paid for her own dinner would he take her to a nice restaurant, it wouldn't be proper for her to one alone. They also both loved to ballroom dance and so after dinner they spent the rest of the evening dancing. Sid would call and ask, "Are the kids gone this weekend?" And soon they spent every other Saturday night out dancing. After seven months Sid asked Elizabeth to marry him, Elizabeth said, "I've been married and know what it's like. You haven't. You don't know what you are getting into. No." But Sid wouldn't give up and after a few more months of asking Elizabeth finally pointed her finger at him and said, "Alright I'll show you what married live is like. Yes, I'll marry you!" And they spent many happy years together. "He's been gone five months and three days. He was a wonderful husband."
I told her that speaking of husbands, I shouldn't keep mine waiting.
"My name is Elizabeth, I live on the second floor if you come back soon, stop by....." I will Elizabeth, I certainly will.
(By the way, when Elizabeth was telling about her parents inviting family to come to "The United States of America", she also said that her mother's brothers came from Ireland! Perhaps, her mother taught her to knit??)
It was a great way to begin my weekend.
I didn't know that today, I was in for and extra treat. As I was leaving, there was a lovely lady sitting at the entrance of the facility knitting her little heart out. I could tell that she was a long time knitter, speeding through the row and watching as others entered and left the building. I also noticed that she knit in a way I had only seen one other person knit, holding her right hand under the needle and guiding it around the yarn and through the stitch. The first time I ever saw this technique, the lady was in a knitting class I taught. She shared that an Irish Nun had taught her to knit while she was in parocial school. On a whim I spun around and slid into the seat next to her, and said that I had noticed the way she was knitting. By any chance had she been taught to knit by someone Irish?
She told me no, that she was English and had learned to knit when she was four. In just those few words I could hear that beautiful English accent and told her so. She then continued on saying that she was English but had in fact she been born in India. Her father was a British Soldier and she lived in India until a trip to see relatives in 1939. Her father had wanted to take them to visit family in England before things escalated and they wouldn't be able to travel. The day that they arrived in London the war began. Her father left to fight and her mother and sister stayed in London until the bombs began to fall in the city. Her mother's brother then opened his home in Plymouth to the three ladies. He assured them that they would be safe in Plymouth and would not be in harms way so far from London. Shortly after they arrived in Plymouth the arms depot was bombed.
Elizabeth, the name of this lovely lady, was beginning to get warmed up....later she and her sister got married on the same day to brothers. And as they were leaving on their honeymoon her father took them both aside and said that when they got back from the honeymoon to come and visit - he had a surprise for them. Elizabeth asked if he was going to the United States of America, and he responded, "How did you know? Yes!" Shortly after her parents arrived in America, they contacted the newlyweds and other family members saying, "Save your pennies. This is the perfect place for you."
Elizabeth, family, friends and acquaintances crossed over the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth. Her Mother and Father lived in New York but the acquaintances moved on to California and soon Elizabeth and her husband were told, "This is the perfect place for you." So off they went to California.
It was nearly a perfect place for them but her first husband began seeing other women, "I know, so unlike an Englishman." and they divorced. Her first husband would take their two children every other weekend. Elizabeth called the acquaintance, Sid, who had originally told the couple to come to California. She asked Sid if she paid for her own dinner would he take her to a nice restaurant, it wouldn't be proper for her to one alone. They also both loved to ballroom dance and so after dinner they spent the rest of the evening dancing. Sid would call and ask, "Are the kids gone this weekend?" And soon they spent every other Saturday night out dancing. After seven months Sid asked Elizabeth to marry him, Elizabeth said, "I've been married and know what it's like. You haven't. You don't know what you are getting into. No." But Sid wouldn't give up and after a few more months of asking Elizabeth finally pointed her finger at him and said, "Alright I'll show you what married live is like. Yes, I'll marry you!" And they spent many happy years together. "He's been gone five months and three days. He was a wonderful husband."
I told her that speaking of husbands, I shouldn't keep mine waiting.
"My name is Elizabeth, I live on the second floor if you come back soon, stop by....." I will Elizabeth, I certainly will.
(By the way, when Elizabeth was telling about her parents inviting family to come to "The United States of America", she also said that her mother's brothers came from Ireland! Perhaps, her mother taught her to knit??)
It was a great way to begin my weekend.
Oh, you just have to go back soon...I want to hear more of this story!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sarah! We need to hear more! Beautifully written, too.
ReplyDelete