This first bonus block is an easy to piece block that features two pinwheels designed by Carla at Creatin' In The Sticks.
My first thought when I saw the block was of the Walk to Remember in 2011. My Dad had Alzheimer's and was a resident at a nearby nursing home for 4-1/2 years.
While his diagnosis was Alzheimer's, I'm not sure it was accurate... he definitely had dementia and memory loss. He eventually lost the ability to communicate along with his mobility. But he always knew who we were when we visited him. The look of recognition and joy in his eyes were all we needed to see to know that he knew us. We never experienced the vacant stare or angry outburst from him, that so many others have to endure.
So, why do pinwheels remind me of him?
He was like a big kid and loved to play like a kid with our girls when they were young. He would unashamedly blow bubbles with and for them (even after they lost interest) or blow at a pinwheel to make it go around causing them to squeal with delight.
In 2011 our entire family participated in the Alzheimer's fundraising event, A Walk to Remember.
At this particular event they gave everyone a flower/pinwheel of a specific color, based on our relationship to the mind altering disease. Those that lived with it got a blue one... Family and loved ones that supported or cared for ALZ patients still living with the disease got a yellow one. If you lost a family member to ALZ you were given a purple one.
My Dad had a blue one (there is a small glimpse of it on the side of his wheel chair), while the rest of us had yellow flower/pinwheels. He held his flower for a portion of the walk as we all took turns pushing him. Sadly, he was one of the few residents that attended the event, but he loved it and would let you know if you were going to hit a bump in the trail or wave and say "hey", his hello, to others as we passed them.
In his memory, I made a purple and a yellow pinwheel.
He passed away in April of 2013... It is sometimes difficult to realize he has been gone for 6 years... he celebrated his 81st birthday on April 29th... the nurses took a cupcake into his room and sang Happy Birthday to him. He opened his eyes and smiled his ornery toothless grin and went to sleep...
I am certain that the celebration in heaven when he arrived was glorious!
Happy Birthday Daddy! 🎶🎵🎶
My apologies for such a melancholy post... But from Ecclesiastes 3
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Quilt on...
Melva
Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series
Linking With:
BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Colour & Inspiration at The Clever Chameleon
Thank you for sharing your special memories. I am sorry for your loss and the sadness you must have experienced watching dementia take hold of your Father but the telling of this story has not made me feel melancholy - it fills me with hope to know how well loved your Father was by his family and to know he is in glory now.
ReplyDeleteNo need to apologize for the post, Melva. What a sweet, sweet memory and thank you for sharing. The block sounds like it will be an excellent reminder of your father.
ReplyDeleteMelva, what a lovely tribute to your father! It's wonderful that you shared your memory of a special event with your father with all of us. Thanks for doing that for us. It gives me hope to know he is in heaven waiting for you and your girls and your grandgirls, too.
ReplyDeleteA tender memory, worth sharing. No apology needed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing memories of your wonderful father with us. Your block is a perfect tribute.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post. We are all Daddy's girls, aren't we? I lost my dad in Feb 2010. I can't believe it either. Sometimes it feels like forever, sometimes just yesterday. Don't ever apologize for sharing a part of life. ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteWow, your association with pinwheels is very strong. A lovely tribute, and a great thing to be able to lovingly remember your father everytime you see such a common patchwork motif.
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