Beyond Cuckoo

Sew What?

Carole King’s blockbuster album, “Tapestry” accompanied me home from work today. I rocked to “I Feel the Earth Move” and soon after teared-up with “You’ve Got a Friend”. When Carol wrote these songs, she was in transition. Her marriage had broken up with Gerry Goffin and friends were hard to come by. In the more recently released memoir, “A Natural Woman” she describes her marriages. One husband became a drug addict, another was physically abusive, and she explores the reasons why she stayed with them as long as she did, and offers advice to women in similar situations.

I thought about Carole this afternoon. Our lives have few similarities. I have never been in the music business and I’m married to my best friend, yet I feel kindred with the singer songwriter. Carole hangs on to people and situations that are not good for her too long. She’s tolerant and forgiving and will give herself away to abusive types in hopes . . . In hopes of what? That they’ll change? See the light? Say they’re sorry? Be friend-like? Fix themselves? In spite of the pain she tries again, yet each time it ends badly for her. However, she trashes no one. She takes her life with her as she leaves.

I recently put away much of what I’ve tried to do in the past few years. I accomplished some things of value, but couldn’t pull off the big picture. Instead, I dusted off my sewing machine, created a garment—a kimono—free flowing, soft and warm. I began stitching a tapestry—an intentional design—structured with room for innovation and beauty.

I spied my husband/only true friend reclined outside with a glass of local wine. With tapestry in hand I sat nearby. How would I describe my personal transition? I began, “So.” He looked at me and then at the needlework, “Sew what?” he replied and we had a good laugh.