Alzheimer's and World Wide Knit In Public Day

A few years ago my mother in law, came to visit while the fellas went off to do guy things with their dad. A sister in law asked her to help with the salad and for the life of her she could not remember what to do to with the lettuce to make one. That was the beginning, the point where not a single one of us could hide from that fact that something was very, very wrong. She became deeply depressed, and paranoid, was afraid to sleep, and then became a little delusional. The diagnosis - dementia of unknown origin, probably Alzheimer's. It was just the beginning of the wildest and worst ride the family has ever been on.

In the years since her diagnosis, she has slowly lost things, slowly lost bit and pieces of herself and we are all that is left to remember them. Just this past week, she was put into a care facility where she will live out her days. and she is a lucky one. She will be in a place, surrounded by family and friends, who will visit and care even when she no longer knows who they are.

Alzheimer's is a curious disease. It has been recorded in human history almost as long as there has been human history. Ancient Greeks and Romans knew it. Like death, it levels all humans. Fame and fortune is no respite. In the end, in some very sorry and sad ways, the victims are in the better position. They don't know how much they miss while everyone around them recalls and remembers and suffers.

I work in a very small group of people, and with our diverse backgrounds, our separate experiences, our differences, we all of us, know someone or have had someone in our immediate family with it.

The store hosts a special event, Knitty in the City, to support the Alzheimer's Society the event is being held in conjunction with WWKIP day this year. Not only will there be fund raising, there will be fun. See River City Yarns home page, click on the links for Knitty in the City 2009 and WWKIP day to see more.

One of the things being sponsored is a charity knitting program. Knit from now to September and deliver the goods to River City and the mitts, hats, scarves, bibs, bed socks will all go to Alzheimer's wards in and around the city. There will be an auction in September of works of particularly good work and those proceeds will go to The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital.

My contribution is going to be bed socks and mittens (or maybe hats) to knit in some very washable, wearable soft yarn, Scheepjes Donna. Bed Socks because in the slightly heavier gauge they will be fast to knit and I won't need a pattern and mittens because May is fast approaching.

Elizabeth Zimmermann says in Knitter's Almanac 'Let's make them in May; let's take our time over them; let's venture into new approaches and designs; let's enjoy them. For the compulsive knitter, hot weather need not put a crimp in his or her activity. Large projects may lie heavy and warm on the lap, but small things like mittens and socks are easy to carry about outdoors, and can be made surprisingly fast. '

I'm interested in using her Mitered Mitten (Ravelry link) pattern, (I will check to see if this is taking liberties with copyright). I might just jazz them up a bit too. Surely I could do lace along the cuffs? Maybe a cable (note to self, may have to actually be able to remember how to do cables first)?

Anyway in support of the fund raiser for a cause that is very dear to my heart I am going to knit my way through a bag of really nice yarn. I might even start before May.

If you are interested in taking part in Knitty in the City 2009, call and register at River City Yarns. 780-477-9276. If you are looking for some great Alzheimer's resources, try some of these.

The Forgetting

Alzheimer's Society of Canada

Alzheimer's Association

The HBO documentary The Alzheimer's Project