Share A Square Day Update—Lemonade

Sometimes, my friends, all you can do is make lemonade.

Sunday was Share A Square Day in Denton, Texas. I had talked Michelle, who owns a totally awesome local bistro called “banter,” into allowing us to use her space for the day (I didn’t have to twist her arm very hard). She generously offered free iced tea and 10% off of any meal for those who came to crochet. In the cool comfort of this bistro, we could eat delicious food, crochet, sip coffee, and talk and eat and eat.

Joanna, at my favorite local vintage store “Alter Ego“, even offered to collect squares and give a 10-25% discount to people who brought in squares! This was a sweet deal, because Joanna has great taste in vintage clothing (if women just hadn’t had such tiny waists back then). Her friend Al, at Copy Pro printed banners and flyers to put around town, and we placed them everywhere that would let us do it.

I went to a crochet group, and I called people. I sat at another coffeehouse crocheting one morning and telling people what we are doing. To the Denton Record Chronicle, I submitted a photo and a pretty decent writeup about the day. Not only did I submit it on-line, but I walked it in the door, because my husband said I should use “both a belt and suspenders” on this one.

I even went down to Frenchy’s (I mentioned him in another post). He has orange trucks on which he puts signs telling about events in town. I talked to his wife, who seemed quite enthusiastic, and went away thinking that there would be signs on those trucks to direct people to Share A Square Day. Signs on Frenchy’s trucks would have been a sure recipe for success. I wore myself out in the Texas heat with all the legwork I was doing. I did everything I knew to do.

BUT, the local newspaper didn’t give it quite the coverage I was hoping. They were kind enough to give it a mention, for which I am grateful. The basics of What, Where, When. weren’t enough to peak anyone’s interest. As far as those orange trucks? Nah. Not a single word.

So, it was with great resignation that I loaded my car on Sunday. I was philosophical about it, because several friends had mentioned they would join me for an hour or two, and I figured I would get a lot of crocheting done on my own.

Just as I was getting ready to shut down my computer, POP! It went off on its own! The power was out, and then we heard sirens. As I drove across town, there were no traffic lights. When I reached banter, there were people inside, but no lights!

I went ahead to set up, because I just knew that the power company would have those lights back on in an hour or so (and I was waaaay early, as I always am). banter has the feel of a cavern, so I knew it would be cool for awhile, even without the air conditioning. Underneath the skylight, there was plenty of light to see to crochet.

I set out everything at the tables, thinking we would go over to the comfy couches to sit and work. I had brought a few of the squares that had been brought to Alter Ego (donated by Rebecca T. and Isabelle—-lovely work, ladies!).

The power didn’t come back on! So, I called the local friends who had said they would be down to tell them not to come (there was no point in the restaurant remaining open, if they couldn’t serve food). My friend Linda S., in Euless called to offer to drive to town, and I wouldn’t let her. By that time, we were hearing rumors that there had been a fire at the power plant. Mary C, a delightful woman I had met at the Senior Center, brought down a knitted square (pictures tomorrow), but I wouldn’t let her stay either. I’ll join the ladies at the Senior Center tomorrow to work on an afghan.

I sat crocheting working on another afghan, and I almost got it finished. By this time sweat was pouring down between my shoulder blades (did I mention that I am MENOPAUSAL?!!!).

Fortunately, Peter and Michelle were good company, and I didn’t bite anyone’s head off. Peter is very tall, and Michelle made him squat down so she wouldn’t look short.

We regained electricity some time around three-thirty. As the restaurant cooled off, I begged for a mocha to get my fix of caffeine. Isabelle and Ali joined me (Isabelle had made some squares, and she took a few to put the rim around them). Ali expressed interest in learning to crochet, so Isabelle took one of my hooks home to teach her.

Hey, I lived through it. There were good parts. And, I just keep remembering the last thing my friend, the late great storyteller Gamble Rogers said to me before his death, “Life is what happens when you are making other plans.”

Peter and I agreed that things could have been a lot worse. We could have been working the switchboard at the Electric Company that day!

We’ve gotten quite a few square in from different places over the last few days. I’ll post pictures tomorrow. But, right now I have to go watch television (tonight is The Closer, and I wouldn’t miss Brenda for all the lemonade in China)

To show you that there are a lot of people who do care about this program, here’s a list of some of the donors and their locations (no links):

Karen B. in MO added a quote from Mother Teresa with her squares:
“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

SHARE A SQUARE DONORS
ARIZONA
Talina N.
CALIFORNIA
Vickie A
Sandee C.
Tracy Federal Credit Union
Meg’s Garden
COLORADO
Janet C
Dorothy V
CONNECTICUT
Priscilla M.
FLORIDA
Barbara
GEORGIA
Sherry L.
HAWAII
Carol O.
IDAHO
Janet B
Linda M.
ILLINOIS
Margaret B.
Donna N.
Camille S.
Judy M.
Carol O.
Prisco Center Senior Exercise Group
INDIANA
Tina S.
KANSAS
Sharon D.
Laura L.
MARYLAND
Nicole
MASSACHUSETTS
Deb E.
Liz S.
MICHIGAN
Julie O.
Red Berry Bookshop
MISSOURI
Maizee (I tried to send a thank you, but it was returned to me)
Karen B.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Janice B
Laura
Rose
NEW MEXICO
Casey K
OKLAHOMA
Linda H.
Kathy
PENNSYLVANIA
Rick C.
Gloria M
TEXAS
Terri B
The Happy Hookers Crochet Club
Tracy J.
Connie K.
Jimmy M.
Joan S.
Mary C.
Irma B.
J.
Wanda S.
Claudie L.
Katie P.
Elfie F.
Pat C.
Donna B.
Donna B.
Mary V.
Ruth O.
Raynah
Isabelle
Rebecca T.
Alter Ego Vintage Shop
Copy Pro
Banter
The Colony Public Library
Connie C.
Cindy
Doris M.
Verna R.
Elaine
Shelly T.
WASHINGTON
Marcia B.
Margaret D
Margie H.
The Kiedrowski’s
Jina M.
Terri M.
Donna O.
Washington DC
Michelle H.
WISCONSIN
Holly W.
WEST VIRGINIA
Stephanie S.
Brooke
WYOMING
Christine S.

CANADA
Melissa G.
Matty
TAIWAN
Stacy H.
SPAIN
Monica H.
SWEDEN
Careta (I’m not sure I’m spelling your name right, and you gave me no contact information, but I thank you!)
Mixed With Sugar (you told me where you were, and I’ve lost the e-mail!)

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The Share A Square project has ended, and the afghans were delivered on July 7th, 2008. Although we will not continue that project, an exciting NEW endeavor, called the Good Medicine Project is in progress for summer camp 2009. We hope you will join us.]

Related posts:

1. Share A Square —”The Nekkid Truth”
2. Share A Square Update
3. Share A Square Update
4. Share A Square September Update Page
5. Share A Square Ongoing Update Page

Tagged as: Camp Sanguinity, Denton, kids with cancer, Share A Square