Representing a Rockstar (Part 3 Details)

During the day, I could not help but peer around like the tourist that I am. I have not been in NYC since December of 1999 when Rich surprised me with a day-trip to the city. One of the “touristy” photos I allowed myself to take was en route to Whole Foods from Rockefeller Plaza.

After filling our bellies at Columbus Circle, the crew began our march to Strawberry Fields in Central Park. The misty clouds in the sky made for an earthy magical feel, as if the weather knew what was afoot and wanted to help in the anticipation. We trudged on chatting and laughing; each learning a bit about one another. One would have never known that we met for the first time only a couple of hours ago in the freezing morning at the Today Show. Yet here we were like old friends.

When we arrived at Strawberry Fields, not only was Stephanie and her team there, but a lot of knitters flocking about her. I could not help but think that she was a shepherdess and we were her sheep. I had to stiffle a few giggles over that idea. Immediately we separately joined in the fun conversations, working our way around the most knitterly party of the year.

Soon enough, I caught Stephanie’s eye and she waved me over. I was so excited that she recognized me. “Me? She waved to me!” Yes, I am a goober… I proudly hugged her, and presented her with the laptop bags — one for her, and one for Jayme. I was then introduced to Jayme-the-wonder-publicist and Deborah-the-editor with more hugs exchanged. Stephanie unzipped a bit of her bag to see Lucy’s green laceweight yarn peeking out of bag. Lots of exclamations of delight were heard by all. Jayme pulled out the red/yellow hank by Carol Martin of Farmhouse Yarns and placed the unwound hank around her like a Hawaiian lei would be on one’s shoulders. It did seem as if we were in paradise now that the weather was warming up. The other items in the bags were three delicious hanks by Inspiration Yarns; Yarns at Lacewings had given a set of Serendipity needles each for Stephanie and Jayme and had added some Claudia’s Handpainted for Stephanie; I myself had added an APC Traveler case for their laptops, Girl Scouts Cookies, Ghiradelli chocolates, and Aristocrat Coffee syrup. Due to my excitement, I did not get a photo of that scene, but someone else did. If I remember it, I will see if I can link to it for checking out. In its place, another hobnobbing photo will have to do of Jayme, Deborah, and Salena watching the crowd.

There are many photos of Stephanie’s glee shining through that midday. Her laughter and smiles were infectious and permeated through the crowd. As expected, we freaked out the Muggles because there is an unspoken rule about disrespecting the mosiac. Of course here we were stepping all over it with our socks and feet. “We’ll just claim we’re Canadian and don’t know any better!” is what someone (was it Stephanie?) shouted. Pam (the blue-haired Granny Purple wearing the Gathering of Lace’s Shaped Triangle shawl out of matching blue Koigu) yelled back, “And I will vouch for all of us that we are all Canadian!” Again Trek’s hot peppers sock bag was in the photo, this time with the purple sock yarn that Veronica dyed for me during Zarah’s Project Spectrum Dyed-sock Yarn Swap, all in Cookie’s BFF pattern. I think the best part of that moment was realizing that the socks on the circle were similar. All were part of a big circle that somehow tied all of us together.

There were so many people we met during all this wonderful hoopla. We found a bench with the plaque, “The Wool Loves Sandy Sue” and Stephanie obliged our begging for her to sit next to it with the Traveling Sock. I was able to photograph a couple of knitters wearing items that I enjoy knitting. Ironically, I never realized it until days later while going through my notes, I had photographed Jessica in her purple Clapotis, and she was the one sitting in front of me during dinner! How is that for chaotic?

We later began separating into groups. Some to crawl for yarn, others to eat, and us to check out the Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting Exhibit at MAD. As we walked out of Central Park, some blue sky appeared — still misty and magical. I could hear the words repeating in my head, “Just IMAGINE.” Hope Sandy and my fellow Skywatchers are reading!! =:8