Passing On the Passion

There are two kinds of people in the world, those who have a passion but like to keep it to themselves and those who have a passion and want to share it with their friends. OK, maybe there are more kinds of people in the world, like those that don’t have any passion or whose passion is for something so tawdry they better not share it, but I’m not talking about those kind of people today.

I am not the passion hoarding type, but rather the passion sharing type. Now in the passion sharing type there are further breakdowns. There are those people who like to force their passion on others because they feel like everything they like is what everyone else on earth should like and then there are those who are happy to teach others who show an interest. I’m the second type. Today was the perfect example.

Since I needlepoint any time I am sitting, which is not just when I am watching TV home alone, but when I am playing Mah Jongg, or at a board meeting or in the car as long as I am not the driver, lots of people have observed me stitching. One friend, Pokey thought that a needlepoint learning party would make a good auction item for the Durham Academy auction so I asked Nancy, my needlepoint storeowner if she would host a party with me. Nancy, always happy to teach new stitchers, agreed readily.

Today was the day that the winner, Kim and her chosen guests came to have their party and learn to needlepoint. Since most everyone except Kim was a needlepoint virgin I was not sure how teaching six women all at once was going to go. Why I worried one moment I do not know because they all took to it beautifully. It helps that they were all smart, type A’s with a large number of advanced degrees among the group. But being smart is not a prerequisite for being good with your hands.

The one theme among the group was the discovery for good lighting and perhaps a pair of readers to be able to see the tiny holes that they were stitching. Since it was a party we had a ton of food, which was hardly touched because each woman was busy mastering the basket weave pattern. I had wine for everyone, but I think it was best they did not drink as they were just learning.

I am happy to report that everyone succeeded and is well on their way to actually making an ornament or a belt. Thanks to Kim for bidding and winning the party at the auction. Raising money for the school while passing on that passion is something that makes me so happy.