Learning to Knit

it’s a long Labor Day weekend
i have decided to learn a new skill
large pile of supplies
yarn, needles, scissors

the day was rainy, dreary
perfect weather for sipping tea
round the kitchen table
with three of my favorite people
mom, dad, and grandma

i open my laptop
begin the video tutorial
try with all my might
again and again
45 minutes later
with a resigned sigh
i declare my failure

my father replied
“I could teach you”
wait – what?
did I hear that right?
you know how to knit?

(now mind you, I have known
this man my entire life,
nearly half a century
never seen him knit)

mom kinda knows how
but prefers crochet
grandma knows how
but its been more than 20 years
i don’t know how
and want to learn

with half an hour
dad is circling the table
behind each budding knitter
giving us pointers, teaching
three generations of women
his mother, his wife, his daughter

when did you learn to knit?
i must know

what follows is a story
of a teenage boy
at summer bible school
required post-lunch activity
wanting to flirt with the girls
knitting and flirting
steamy summer afternoons

the laughter is deep-bellied
tears streaming down cheeks
matching the raindrops
on the window panes
knitting and laughing
rainy summers-end afternoon

love stitched together
across generations, across time
some things never change