It's Nothin' but Mittens

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

Lao-Tzu (604 BC - 531 BC)

I always remember getting a christmas gift from Alice. Knitted mittens, knitted slippers, knitted socks, a knitted toque, and one year a knitted vest. I can't say I was excited about her gifts amongst the great new ones I got like the Barbie camper. I have just begun to appreciate her gift.

Alice wasn't the little old lady type. She wasn't sweet, flighty or fragile. She was tough and smart and would let you have it when you needed it, boy, do I know about that. She was a do what needed to be done kind of lady.

She knitted gifts for about 28 people in our family every year. She lived on a small pension which meant a tight budget. She could have easily made the excuse not to give because of money but she didn't. She knew that mitts wouldn't outshine our great new toys but she gave them anyhow. Year after year she took the time and always sent them.

Perhaps, when she was knitting she thought of each of us. They were her token that said "I love you" without expectation. Alice's love was knitted into the mittens.