A Special Gift
At the end of every semester I put on my accompanist hat and play piano for my dear friend’s elementary school choral concert. Her program consists of 3rd and 4th grade choruses, recorder, and Orff ensembles. This year’s spring concert was a play about a talented quiltmaker who gives her quilts only to those who truly need them. The music provided by the ensembles was interspersed within the play and was performed beautifully.
My friend and I share many passions, among them our careers in music, our love of wine, and our passion for knitting and crochet. Every September we travel with our husbands to the Finger Lake region to spend a weekend wine-tasting, eating great food, and playing a favorite rummy game called “Hand and Foot”. She and I carve out a day each summer to enjoy lunch at the New Leaf Restaurant in Fort Tryon Park, visit a yarn shop somewhere in the NYC area, and visit Zachy’s in Scarsdale for a wine run. I’m sure, if we had the time, we would figure out more ways to do the things we love!
I expect nothing in return for playing for these concerts. Usually, though, I receive a bottle of wine or a gift certificate to The Knitter’s Edge, more than sufficient thanks. However, this time my friend gave me a thank you gift that made my jaw drop. Everything was included in a red metal tub, great for turning into a planter at some later date, wrapped in clear cellophane, and tied with a red “Mrs. Field’s” ribbon. The individual items were layered in the tub in a way that meant I could only reveal one gift at a time. Included in the tub was a thank you note,
a t-shirt from the production, 
a bottle of red wine (chosen especially for me by my friend’s husband),
and a gift certificate to The Knitter’s Edge.
The absolute best part, though, was a skein of Katia’s Bombay mercerized cotton yarn, and a pattern called “Birthday Cake Cowl“, downloadable from Ravelry.
The colors couldn’t be more perfect, a testament to how well my friend knows me! Even with all the projects I currently have on my needles and hooks, I couldn’t resist starting it last night. It’s knitting up so quickly, I’ll have it done soon, and will be able to take it along on summer business trips.
What a fabulously unexpected gift! Thanks, Marie!!!