Quilted with Love

There is just something about a hand-made quilt, made especially for YOU, that makes you feel all warm and glowy inside.  I received a package in the mail today, from California.  Inside was a very tactilely (yes I do make up new words with alarming frequency) delicious quilt with pink velvet (hey, it could be velour, but all I know is, it's SO soft!) on one side, and amazing quilting on the other side.

This thoughtful gift came from my niece, Sandi, my great niece Lindsay and my Sister-in-Law Pat.  I call it thoughtful, because Sandi explained that a friend of hers had gone through something similar to me, and she knew that the chemo room was going to be cold as ice.  And indeed, I had already been warned by the nurse during my 'chemo class' that it might be a good idea to bring a blanket.

Interestingly enough, the last time someone made me a beautiful quilt was when I had breast cancer.  Two friends of mine, Vicki and Judy, who both belonged to the company quilting club, had worked on it while I was out on leave, and when I got back, they brought it to me at my desk.  How lovely to know that people think of you enough to do something that requires such skill, and time!  I STILL get misty-eyed about that quilt.  So in receiving today's package, I not only felt the love from my out of state family, but I experienced the remembered love from the first quilt. How lucky am I?

The original quilt features bright, saturated colors and fabric depicting parrots and other birds.  Before my lungs started having major problems, I had done parrot rescue and had several of the intelligent creatures gracing my life.  So, Vicki and Judy knew I would love that fabric.  I love it so much, I redid my bedroom in complementary colors so that I could mount the parrot quilt on my wall.  It's a reminder that no matter how difficult things become in one's life, you can always find beauty and love.

Well, tomorrow is port surgery day, so I guess I should try to get some sleep. 

Thank you again, Sandi, Lindsay and Pat.  I love you, my dear family.