Chapters, 26Jun12

Yesterday I went over to Casa Grande to the last charity quilting day at Kokopelli Quilts.  Sandy is closing up the shop, moving back home to Missouri to be nearer her biological family, to play with her grandkids and great grandkids and watch them grow up. It was a bittersweet day, commemorating so many happy times, such joy, such sharing, community and bonding among these women who gathered monthly to work on quilts to give away to people who they would likely never know.  When I heard that the day had finally arrived, which we all knew would come eventually, I told Sandy that I'd move heaven and earth to be there.  I did and was.  I gathered my partially completed give-a-way quilt, additional fabric bits, and my portable sewing machine; I also tossed in my current crochet project that has to be completed by this Saturday for a baby shower.  As I drove the 80+ miles to the shop, I reminisced about the many days, weeks and months, all the many quilts, and all the camaraderie that lives in my memory from those days. 

The night I made an offer on my Arizona City house, I was at loose ends in Casa Grande and wondered whether any of the local quilt shops had open sewing on Thursday nights like they did back in Houston.  I drove by Kokopelli Quilts and the lights were on, so I stopped and went in.  A dozen ladies were sitting around, talking, laughing and quilting.  Sandy asked, "May I help you?"  I said I was a quilter who had just bought a house locally.  She said something to the effect of "Where have you been, we've been waiting on you" and I knew I had found myself a community, right then and there.  All I had with me that night, since I had flown in, was a crochet project.  So it was fitting on the last project day that I have a crochet project in tow. 

As we shared the potluck lunch, Mary gathered emails and phone numbers, so that she could re-engage each of us, once she finds us a new location for our gatherings.  Once she finds us a new home, the Kokopelli Quilters will continue to make quilts to give away to those in need for comfort, remembrance and solace.  The quilters will continue to have a rollicking good time doing it.  And yes, the baby quilt will be finished in time for the shower on Saturday.