Up until last year, my friend Cindy used to knit me a sweater for my birthday. The only reason she stopped was now that I'm retired, I don't wear sweaters much anymore. I usually wear flannel shirts or rugby shirts. When I still worked for IBM I wore a sweater to work everyday during the winter.
The first sweater she knitted for me was an Irish fisherman type sweater. It was all white. When my sister and my mother saw it, they both drooled over it. It was beautiful. Alas, I no longer wear it. My shoulders have gotten too big and that made the sleeves too short. Cindy altered it and I gave it to my sister.
"Yeah", I hear you say. "You just got too fat, didn't you."
Nope. Since I have to use my arms and shoulders to walk with crutches, those areas have bulked up. The Beauteous Bou told me in an e-mail that when she grabbed my arm up at Eric's to make a point in a conversation, she was surprised at how hard it was. Yep! Above the waist, I'm a hunk.
The next year, Cindy knitted me another Irish type sweater. This one was powder blue. My mother and sister drooled again. Alas, I also outgrew that one.
The following year, she knitted me a sweater with a pattern that had all different colors. She had done a lot of travelling the year she knitted it so this sweater visited many places during its creation. She was extremely proud of this and I think you'll see why.
When I found out that I was gonna get the cover on the story they wrote about me, I wore this sweater to the photo shoot so it would be immortalized. Isn't that an awesome sweater? At the time she gave it to me, we both agreed that it was the most beautiful sweater in the world. But she was just getting started.
Hey Rat Turd! I was 52 years old and wallowing in self pity when that picture was taken. Y'see that plane behind me? I actually flew it. Solo.
Jane fancies herself a knitter. Bet you she couldn't knit anything like that sweater.
Unfortunately, that sweater has gone to sweater heaven. The elbows wore out and Cindy was unable to repair them. I really miss that sweater. Out of all of 'em, I think it was my favorite.
Tomorrow, the fourth sweater Cindy knitted for me. Prepare to be dazzled.
Update: For those aviators out there that is a Piper Cherokee Warrior, N8220H.
Posted by denny at December 7, 2005 05:28 PMwhoa ... damn sexiest cripple i've ever seen. mmm!
Posted by: erica on December 7, 2005 06:21 PMDamn fine sweater!
Posted by: Alan on December 7, 2005 06:40 PMYour are one lucky dude! That is an awesome sweater & she is an fabulous knitter!! Can't wait to check out sweater #4.
BTW, great blog, too!
Posted by: Jan aka Warrior Knitter on December 7, 2005 10:52 PMI'm laughing. It's the 2nd half of the post that had me laughing.
You have a great bod, Denny. Your flannel shirts hide it. Your shirt was hanging from your frame, so I had NO IDEA when I grabbed your arm you were built like you are.
And that's an AWESOME picture. I wasn't sure what to admire most... the man or the sweater.
Posted by: Bou on December 7, 2005 11:20 PMGreat pic, great sweater and great post Denny.
Posted by: Teresa on December 7, 2005 11:30 PMwe are a very small club of para pilots.
Posted by: bill on December 8, 2005 12:19 AMBill - I never got my license because the FAA doesn't approve of one of the meds I am on. I am contemplating getting a recreational pilots license if I can find a suitable plane that fits within the guidelines. What do you fly? Do you use a rudder bar?
Posted by: Denny on December 8, 2005 12:27 AMAs a knitter, by no means in Cindy's league, I must comment that that one is not only beautiful, but also displays intricate workmenship. The constantly changing pattern thingy makes us semi-pros pull our hair out. You go, Cindy. You bad, girl!!
Posted by: Indigo on December 8, 2005 12:34 AMThat's not a sweater. That's a sweater-shaped work of art. Outstanding.
Posted by: Tessa on December 8, 2005 12:36 AMI always wonder how Douglas Badar got on, and he didn't have the aid of a cool jersey either.
Posted by: Murray on December 8, 2005 12:48 AMHate to be picky, Murray, but Douglas Bader DID wear a sweater that was as cool as it comes in the 1940's.
Many of the photographs of Bader at the time show him wearing a Royal Navy submariners "roll neck" sweater under his uniform coat. The RN "jumper" was made of natural greasy wool, and supposedly took the wool of 12 sheep to make. It was designed to insulate against the freezing water of the Channel and the North Sea if a pilot had to ditch or a sailor had to abandon ship.
If you have never read the story of Douglas Bader, have a read of "Reach For The Sky" by Paul Brickhill. A truly inspirational story of courage in adversity, bravery in combat, and a gentleman in the old fashioned sense of the word.
All too rare in the world today.
Posted by: PQ on December 8, 2005 07:56 AMI have to add my voice to the chorus: great, *great* sweater. In many ways you are a lucky man Denny. I wish I had someone who had such talent knitting me a sweater. Not "a sweater a year." Just *a* sweater.
And thanks for posting the cover pic. Good on you.
Posted by: BlogDog on December 8, 2005 10:07 AMA man of 52 has no right to all that dark hair. I tell my sons God will get them for making fun of gray-haired bald guys. (I know that for a fact -- I used to laugh at my dad's being pileously challenged.)
Posted by: Bob on December 8, 2005 10:34 AMGood Job Denny, Life does not seem to get you down. "Definitely, the Cat who ate the Canary grin" A proud moment no doubt. Good for you and God's Speed!
BTW
I'm not a knitting expert or knitting anything, but wife is very good and she would say that is real talent, Please pass on the compliments.
Cheers
Cover Boy!
Sweater aside, that's a fine picture of you...except for the fact that you don't look especially grouchy.
Posted by: Elisson on December 9, 2005 11:16 AMDenny, you look great and the sweater is beautiful! She's so talented. I crochet blankets, but they end up lopsided lol. I have no idea how anyone knits - especially such a complicated pattern.
I'm not a GOC, but I have a medical problem that started two years ago after two abdominal surgeries within four months. It's changed my life dramatically and impacted every aspect of it. I went from a person who rarely had a cold to having to see a doctor every month to make sure I'm not in need of emergency surgery. I'd be lying if I said that at times I'm not extremely angry and toss a big ol' pity party for myself when no one is around to witness it. However, thanks to finding your blog many months ago, reading your positive outlook and your drive to keep living a fulfilling life, it's given me the drive to cut down on pity parties for one and be thankful I'm alive.
Thank you.
Posted by: Shannon on December 9, 2005 06:30 PMPQ said "If you have never read the story of Douglas Bader, have a read of "Reach For The Sky" by Paul Brickhill. A truly inspirational story of courage in adversity, bravery in combat, and a gentleman in the old fashioned sense of the word."
Nice to hear from a fellow WWII aviation buff. I haven't read "Reach for the Sky" yet but it's on my list. Commander Bader was well respected by friend and foe alike. In fact, after the war I believe he formed a close friendship with Adolph Galland sometimes referred to as the "Fighting General" A hero in his own right. Unfortunately for him he was on the wrong side. Anyway, you probably already know about him, interesting fellow just the same.
Cheers
Posted by: scaryguy on December 9, 2005 07:28 PMOK Denny. Scbuba diving, solo flight, snow skiing, and who knows what else. How about sky diving? Ever give that any thought?
BTW, Merry Christmas at ya!
I see no need to jump out a perfectly good airplane. My sister, however, was a skydiver until she got married and her husband asked her to stop.
Posted by: Denny on December 10, 2005 04:47 PMI did when I was sixty, with my son. It was one of the highlights of my life. Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane? 'cause the farkin door was open, and the seats were uncomfortable. Give it some thought.
Posted by: Alan on December 11, 2005 02:12 AM