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Over the years I’ve taught a number of people how to knit My first students were other cancer patients going through chey Center, and before long, I had everyone,cotton washcloths I think every doctor and nurse in that clinic has enough knit washcloths to last a lifeti knitters han Certainly I’ve had some failures but far more successes My patience was rewarded when others found the sa

Now I have et custo classes I’d never sell enough yarn to stay in business if I ran classes in washcloths, so I’ve chosen a simple baby blanket to start with The pattern’s by one of , and uses the basic knit and purl stitches

I don’t knohat to expect of my new venture, but I’m hopeful Hope to a person with cancer--or to a person who’s had cancer--isWe live on it, live for it It’s addictive to those of us who’ve learned to take one day at a tiinners’ class when the bell above the door chimed My first customer had just walked in and I looked up with a s excitearet

"Hi," I said, doing my best to sound happy to see her I didn’t wanto ahead with this idea of yours"

I didn’t respond

Frowning, Margaret continued "I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by and see the shop"

I gestured with one ar "What do you think?" I didn’t bother to mention that Blossom Street was decidedly out of her way

"Why’d you naone over dozens of shop names, some too cute by half, so a yarn"stories with people, listening to their experiences, is iacy of the clinic, I suppose A Good Yarn see naaret "I wanted ed as if she’d seen a dozen knitting shops with more impressive names than ain "What do you think?"

Margaret glanced around a second tied after her first inspection "It’s better than I expected"

I considered this high praise "I don’t have a large inventory yet, but I’ to build it up over the next year or so Of course, not all the yarn I’ve ordered has arrived And there’s et, so takes time and money" In my enthusias Mom to help you?" The question was blunt

I shookthis entirely on my own" So that was the reason for her unannounced visit Margaret thought I was going to take advantage of our mother I wouldn’t and the question offended lared atthe truth

"I cashed in aret’s deep brown eyes, so much like my own, nearly doubled in horror at what I’d done "You didn’t"

What didaround in my bottom drawer? "I had to" Given h I’ve been cancer-free for four years now, I’m viewed as a risk in just about every area

"It’s your aret said it implied I’d made a terrible decision "But I don’t think Dad would have approved"

"He would’ve been the first one to encourage me" I should have kept my ht," Margaret said with the caustic edge that never failed to appear in our conversations "Dad couldn’t deny you anything"

"The money was my inheritance," I pointed out I suppose her share is still accruing profit

My sister walked around the shop, eyeing it critically Considering Margaret’s apparent dislike of me, I don’t knohy my relationship with her is so iile and she hasn’t adjusted to life without Dad Soon, I’ht of not having any farateful not to knohat the future holds I once asked my father why God wouldn’t just let us knohat to the future is actually a gift because if we kneouldn’t take responsibility for our own lives, our own happiness As with so ht

"What’s your business plan?" Margaret asked

"I--I’ small"

"What about custoes" I didn’t mention that the new phone directory didn’t coaret any ahborhood, too, but I didn’t kno effective that would be I was counting on word of enerate custo else I didn’t mention

My older sister snickered I’ve always hated that scoffing sound and had to gritready to post a sign forclass"

"Do you seriously think a hand to draw people into your store?" Margaret dehtain, you can’t expect h this construction mess"