Two socks and the book that swept me away

First of all, very little ‘exciting’ knitting took place this week. I was very, very busy before, during, and right after half-term, so while more repeats were added to my Hitofude, it still looks pretty much the same, and while I added a few extra colors to my second Time Traveler sock, I also screwed it up when I added a stitch and a hole while watching and fixing mistakes in the dark of half-term video. I had to frog and fix, but we’re back on track now.

I DID start the first Mystik Spiral Sock; I’m so excited for how this is going to turn out! I love how you increase in the toe; this is one of the best method’s I’ve seen yet. I don’t see myself ever becoming a sold out toe-upper, but it is nice to find better ways to do something. So far it’s really unexciting—not even up to full stitch count yet, but that was as far as I could get with my 30 minute ‘oxygen mask’ while listening to a Great Course this afternoon. I figured I deserved a break after my non-stop weekend!

So, even though there is hardly any knitting worth noting, I wanted to talk about a book that totally swept my off my feet and invaded my world for this last week. It absolutely rocked my world, and still has me thinking. What was it you ask? Me Before You.

I have had this on my ‘to read’ list for awhile, and for my birthday weekend I borrowed it and Son via my library’s digital collection. In my head this was going to be something on par with The Fault in Our Stars which I haven’t read, but I’ve seen the movie and know enough to know that I was too old when it came out to be swept away with it. Well, I was wrong. Utterly absorbed; could barely put it down.

First of all I must state that as a Christian I cannot endorse the choice Will made, but as he was a non-believer, I can understand why he made it. Even though I knew how the book was going to end, I kept hoping right up till the end that somehow the space-time continuum had changed and the ending was going to be different—he was going to accept the life he had waiting for him with Louisa. I loved watching them fall in love, and reading this book made me question very deeply what my attitudes towards disabled people were, and how I can treat them with better dignity and respect. I love how they both opened up each other’s worlds, and I love that Will looked out for her and protected her at the end.

An excellent book, a gripping story, and with ideas and questions I will need more time to work through, this was not only enjoyable as entertainment, but a good stretch to my thinking. I believe in the sanctity of human life; that our lives are not our own because we were created by the almighty God. To end our life says that He is incapable of moving in our situation, or that He made a mistake by allowing us to walk through that pain. I believe that there is always hope, and that God can redeem anything--anything to His glory…if we let Him. So I’ll keep thinking, keep looking for ways that I can speak hope into hurting people, and keep reading so I can broaden my mind and faith. Of all the things I fear, brain calcification is quickly becoming one of the top ones!

Parting shot: This weekend I watched The Magnificent Seven with Ruthie; so much fun! Absolutely a typical western that was surprisingly racially diverse, and with lots of great lines. This one however, might be my favorite. In response to the question about what to do if he dies, Denzel Washington’s character replies,

New life goal: to be in a situation where I can legitly quote this to someone. Right up there with hoboing it in the Opryland Hotel…