The words, “Happy as if I were in my right mind,” is a favorite expression that makes me smile when I think of it. My late brother, Steve, used to say it all the time. I learned it from him. Well, I am here to tell you that I am happy AND in my right mind, but I have to seriously wonder if many of the people we see on the news are enjoying the same state of being. All I have to do is to turn on the news to come to the conclusion that the world is full of “nuts.” Tough nuts at that. Nuts who mean business, and who seriously want to cause harm to others, and to society, as we know it. When I say that, I am thinking of school shootings, flash mobs, and clips of Osama bin Laden, still shirking in some cave, yet directing others toward evil, ironically in the name of Islam and its promotion. I see reports of bank robberies, muggings, car thefts, stabbings, not to mention white collar crimes and breaches involving identity theft. What is the world coming to?
Amid all of the conflict and confusion, I am so glad that I have a creative outlet called quilting that keeps my mind and hands occupied. Like most folks who have been quilting for awhile, I have projects galore, some already started and some still just in my head. I have stockpiled fabrics that I like, to the point that I no longer must go shopping to buy fabric for any given project, UNLESS I want to enjoy the ambience of a lovely quilt shop such as Keepsake Quilting in Centre Harbor, NH, or Quilted Threads in Henniker, NH, my two favorite destinations within the state. Both places are well-lit and the selection of everything in those two shops is tasteful and displayed nicely. The company of other quilters is always fun.
Yes, for the last several days, I have “lost” myself in a project that is turning out well. My brother died in 1994 but lived long enough to see my studio, my quilts, and I, featured in a short magazine article that year, my first and one that he took to work with him. He was so proud of me. He would be happy that I am “as happy as if I were in my right mind.” What could be more “right” than being engaged in creative enterprises? All is right in my world. Politicians aside, how about you?
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
