It was not when I received the very large box of yarn for my Christmas Knitting. Nor was it when I received a request for a hand-knit scarf before Christmas (it was a beautiful request full of kindliness and caring by a dear friend for someone in much need of kindliness, caring, and a hand-knit scarf! I could not turn it down).
My harrowing moment came when George and I began to unload the van after our trip to Portland to visit my Mother. It was evening and quite dark. I was standing in the driveway on the passenger side of the van and asked George to hit the button to open the automatic sliding door on that side. He did. And as the door began to slide open, I saw (to my horror) that my QSQ (my newest lacy Q’mitl) had fallen off the seat onto the floor and was sliding right along with the door! I grabbed the door to stop it and hollered for George. So there I was fiercely hanging onto the van door as it politely slid a bit forward and then a bit backward and then a bit forward again, not sure what it is supposed to be doing, dragging my QSQ with it.
George dropped everything and ran around to my side of the van (later he confessed that he thought it was the cat that was stuck in the door) did something logical to make the door stop moving and pulled out his iPhone to use as a flashlight while I probed around the gears of the door where the QSQ was stuck. I was able to dislodge some of the fabric, but it was still firmly and terribly caught. To George’s credit (and to my later profound admiration) he did not suggest just cutting it loose. He actually offered to get a screwdriver and try dismantling the door! Before resorting to drastic measures, tho, I suggested that I hold the iPhone cum flashlight and he give it a go. He poked round the gears for a few seconds and the QSQ slipped free! I still don’t know how it happened. But even more amazing was the fact that the QSQ was undamaged! Just two small greasy spots and a little bit of pulling — all of which I was able to put right with a little detergent and water.
Harrowing experience. Miraculous experience. Thank you, Lord!