Journey - The Shelter Quilt is Home.

UPDATE  Winter Holiday 2017  - to inspire the public to support their local shelters:

LIfelong arts and response work with red cross and others, my experience of Operation Hope Shelter for Homeless, in Fairfield Connecticut USA  1991-1996,  was unique.   Among other things, at the end of my involvement there, there was this quilt.   And it's story.

The Quilt was made from "Bits and Pieces" - remnants of fabrics used to decorate the place or alter clothing for the temp shelter residents, for a nice appearance on job interviews etc. that would allow them to get on with their lives, self-directing and well. 

The Shelter Quilt, to me, became a symbol of the shelter itself, which through its services, makes lives whole again - lives that were once in " bits and pieces"  - as life will do.

The  symbolism of the Shelter Quilt and its being were so intense that  it found its home with the project founders  no sooner than December 2016, TWENTY years after it was made.   May it be a light and inspiration to all who see it.   It's even soft and huggy.

 

For the story - READ ON:

 Recovering by helping others, from sudden and early widowhood and then our children's empty nesting, I was  Injured in an accident, right after my return from Redcross'  ARCODS Assistant Station Manager service.    It was so strange, after years of seeing to the emergencies of others, to BE the emergency, myself !   Several short term living arrangements happened while waiting for setup for my care needs.   One day, I was the helper, the next day, the helped.    Very odd.    My background was lovely and my works fine and often above average,  but things were barely in hand, after sudden and too-soon widowhood,  when the recession hurt our money, so I rescued what I could of the money and paid it to our children to protect them up to their majority.    Back home in Connecticut, felt I'd have no problem finding nice new work. But then the  injury reduced me to poverty.     But my background was very honored,  and I proved it , and won a good care setup, and so, I saw that I could still help others,  specially, though disabled.  
 

I served at the shelter:  scrubbed and disinfected, and lead singing and beauty and computer intimidation and art and resume classes and more. The Redcross work gave confidence and skills.   Fine memory gave the LOVE and loving insights and powers.

The quilt :  Our Shelter was in a wealthy area, so the clothing donations were smashing but often ill-fitting.   So I made clothes or altered them for at least a dozen;  made chintz type slipcovers for the shelter furniture and more.

This I did right through the "moments" at  shelter - my own injuries' discomforts,  plus the "moments" of the others:  anguish, crisis, tears, occasional fights, thefts, and the one time I helped remove a very large knife from a heartbroken desperate young wife and mother with drug issues, and ideas to end it all.  

There were also the social NIMBI things all shelters suffer;  thankfully, these were offset by community and church support.  

The Town Food Pantry Garden was across the street from the quite and green town shelter and we, the injured, had been hauling hose across the street daily in the hot weather , to keep it watered and growing.  But then,  a few yards away the firehouse next to the garden brought the fun fix:   the men were cleaning their hoses and simply smiled and told us to get out of the way....ta dahhhh!   They simply aimed the firehose over the fence and did so daily afterward.   Best garden in town!    

There were the gifts from the people in the community - food, music and invitations to join in the nice social events, and famiy fun, to make those at the shelter feel less like social lepers...so much good was done!

For some reason, when I did the sewing there,  I saved all the fabric scraps from it,  and, when my disability arrangements were made I  moved on.   One day, I found the scrap bag and thought , philosophically:  wow! this would  make "Quite a Quilt" -   I cried and laughed as I pinned and sewed, and sometimes shook with fear, remembering - all alone in my lovely new bungalow.    

"Bits and Pieces" I named it from the comments of one of the women at the time, referring to the famous old rock song of the same name. Seemed right.   Then , to be sure to get on with it, I labelled some of the remnants on the quilt - this was from a woman's  new work uniform, and that one from a man's  slacks alteration...etc.   .... and folded it up and packed it carefully AWAY.  End. Resolved. Done.  AWAY. 

Every few years I'd  pull it out and see how I was doing - I am so much more than fine!  Busy happy and in the shows and regaining cash after all that injury before I am too old. 

Thank you so much!   I have donated cash and work to surpass my expense, using my artwork, to show my thanks in help to others.

And today, I am sending this on to the place where the fabrics were born - Faifield Connecticut's Operation Hope.  They are still  there, and helping over twenty years later!  

It was presented to one of the founders as a wall-hanging from the loops I thought to include.      I am so proud of its message.    Few of us make the journey unscathed, but there was the feeling that , if I COULD make that quilt, it was one more sign:   THE HOUSE WAS GOOD -  and probably still is! 

The communications with Operation Hope,  after all these years, did not really hold, but  the gift was arranged and the quilt shipped. I live on the other side of the state now.   And there was reply, when all was done.   In accepting the Quilt, last year,  this closure was in my emails:

"Hi Elle:

We did receive your beautiful quilt and, as I mentioned, I am going to be presenting it to Reverend David Spollett, our founder, as a 30 year anniversary gift.     We are so grateful for this gift.  Please know it has sentimental value for us as well.

Sincerely,  Carla"

My message - NEVER GIVE UP -   there IS redemption and the "Great day in the morning!"   Begin.

ESF At OH 1995

- elle

New Years Eve Times Square 1966

Freezing - just freezing - and we were delighted!   In a few hours,  it would be 1966,  temperatures around 30F,  with significant wind chill that year, made no impression on us !

He and I  were in love!   We laughed, thrilled with  any excuse to hug close.    And so the weather was our friend, as we emerged from the parking garage.   The weather only added to the excitement of the evening and the thrill of being at New Year's Eve Headquarters at Times Square in  New York City !  

We'd earned the break!   Both of us had been intent on winning our gold stars all along.   Now, his first college done, and with the promise that he'd be working to get rid of the killer chemical, Agent Orange in Viet Nam, his military duty began:  Basic Training almost finished for him and on to special chemical training, then Officers Candidate School, after the holiday leave.    And for me, younger, a student break-time from college,  and job and happy to be hosting MY soldier at my parents home, most welcome by all.    Christmas in Connecticut was the best and now Times Square in our best city evening attire.   Yes!

So far, it had been a  happy holiday in spite of the dangers ahead.  Whatever it was, we knew it was our time, our game and we'd win thru anything on Earth or in Heaven.  We really believed that !   I still feel that the right kind of love, one that feeds the life lights, and improves the drive for life, always makes the right kind of difference.  There was nothing witheld in love and commitment and best integrity and now this glamorous night was ours! 

Tearing along the pavement, the glow now warming us as we actualized our plan.  There would be dinner, champagne and music and then back on the run, to the best spot for the view in Times Square, for the landing of the New Year's Ball !  

1966 ,   we are here and we are ready!   It may be war out there, but to us, it's about life !  

We did not plan on the cold and so we talked more and walked a bit faster than the dreamy tourist-y  stroll we had in mind!   At one point he joked about our pace being brisk and we began to sing "We're off to see the Wizard"  together, and even did the skipping dance for a few seconds,  to dramatize our pace - then more laughter.    Later in our marriage, "off to see the Wizard" became our code for any need for extra caution or push or special consultation - and would give us a winning smile in a difficult moment. 

That night - it evolved as symbolic in many ways:  Yes it was cold and dark - chilling to the bone if not dealt with -  and again we felt fully confident that we'd win through because the dark and cold were broken by  the lights of love, inspiration, action, friends and more !   And, though we were of the age to focus on perfect self-reliance, there were also  our saints and angels.  

We gazed intently at one another and kept up the brisk pace, with added powers and understanding.  Exhilarating !  I was so glad to be there and with HIM and no one else!  When you are in love, with a person, idea or life in general - challenge is an opportunity !

Navigating the density of the crowd, alone, was quite the thing to experience "for real" !   It was nothing like the like the television coverage of the night - nothing like the view from a warm sofa, as a home audience.  

They say everyone should visit Times Square at New Years Eve once in their lifetime.   Ohhhh, YES!  

The air, the night, the sounds and the crowd!  We immersed - we were one with the ocean of souls.    All sorts of people in the full range of dress:  casual , formal and costumes - the big googly glasses were fairly innovative that year, and so many having fun with the "Merch" of the evening!   We only wanted US, but I think we bought something for souvenir.  

(Will this story GET there?   I am doing it to you  it on purpose, gentle readers...waiting is maddening, no? )

It was still early and ducking in and out of the crowd,  we danced along now, on with our evening.

En route to our restaurant, we encountered a man lying against a building wall, possibly not sober, probably a homeless man, judging by his soiled, inadequate clothing and unshaven looks. Dressed to the nines, my husband-to-be and myself were quite the contrast and paused, ready to help him to warmth and some cash.  For a number of reasons, social consciousness  had recently been  brought to life and was growing.   And so we stopped and assessed and thought what to do.   This was the prosperous sixties - most out-of-towners never saw anyone so afflicted.  We were sad and wanted to help, but a NYPD policeman approached to take over, and so we went on, reassured and at peace about it.   

Dinner was grand !  Music, warm hearth, champagne and hot food, were twice as fine, after the chilly outdoor trek getting there!   The place was chosen by him for their famous Prime Rib, his favorite.   Of course, Sole Chemise en Blouse for the lady - the rule at that time.  

Pleased.    We relaxed and glowed and yet, we were ready to move on, when it was time,  because it was nearing THAT time -  the suspense was as delicious as the meal !

Nearing midnight December 31, 1965 !

Now truly on the quest,  we dashed once more, toward the Square and "The Moment"   -   the noise was WONDERFUL!  and then the countdown:

 "Ten !   Nine !    Eight !   Seven !   Six !   Five !   Four !   Thuuureee !   ahhhh-Two !   OOOOOONE !!!! .... HAPPPPPY NEW YEAR !!!!  "

Jubilation!    

All these years later and such good years -

and widowed and recovered long ago, it remains a treasure to remember our own Times Square New Year Kiss!  

A new year and at Times Square with the longed-for Handsome Prince at my side and I at his!   

A new year and feeling empowered for it!

We kissed again!  And many around us doing the same!

A new year,  not without challenge but without real fear!  

I don't even remember the trip home - we held on to that moment and cherished it along till it eventually faded on its own. That was one lifesaver we would never bite!  

It was a grand way to begin a grand year and a few months later we were officially engaged and that Christmas, married!  Feeling we'd done it right, so far, and happy to do more of the same forever together!

May it be so for you, now and always!

Happy New Year!

Elle



 

Santa & Missus

True dream - first posted  2000

My house was too quiet, with Christmastime near!  

My feelings so lonely ! My eye held a tear!

House locked for the night, and so off to bed.  

But sat up again, averting my head  

At space in the shelves that divided the room,

shone one little light to break up the gloom

And 'there' on my chairs, just taking a rest,

were Santa & Missus!  My house was so blessed!

They saw I was shocked and said not to fear.

"Your place was so quiet!

We thought we'd stop here, 

And just take a break from the holiday noise -

there's so much to do for good girls and boys!"

Well, I was pleased, and feeling much better.

They rested and napped, then back out in the Weather, 

I guess is what happened, 'cause I, too, got sleepy.  

Soon I was napping and no longer weepy.

And when I awoke, they seemed to be gone.  

Me. alone, but not lonely, enjoying a yawn!

This yarn for the season I hope you'll recall  

to children, grandchildren - it's for one and all!

~ Elle Smith Fagan