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November  6

Knitting a scarf before Christmas was not as fast as crocheting, but she thought it would be prettier for her. She knew her mother-in-law could buy really expensive things, but she also knew that something made with love held its own value.

November 7

She and Ryan gave money to her father. He was too old to work as many hours as he used to at the bakery. He had moved to a place with no stairs, and he still baked. He wouldn’t quit working for love nor money, but he had cut back. Ali knew people who wouldn’t retire even in their 90’s! How amazing they were still so aware that they could do that. He had fallen in love with a patron, and she lived with him now. After Ali’s bout with leukemia, he had reached out to Gladys. She was only a few years younger, and truly easy going.

Gladys didn’t cook, so they either called in or Pop cooked. They did OK. They joined the Senior Center in the county and they spent time there doing things. Playing checkers, reading, talking and just being happy. When they played Bingo, they were so surprised to win sometimes. The prize usually came from the local 5 & Dime store. Some people called those places dollar stores now.

They both liked going to Mass, even when there was controversy, because there was always controversy, but there was more importantly Mass. It wasn’t about controversy. It was about the relationship with God to them.  Sometimes Ryan and Ali joined them in Mass. It was nice going with family, and Ali and Ryan tolerated religion.

Ali had given more than 15 hand knitted scarves over the years to Pop, so she didn’t need to make another for him. Her new Step-mother was a knitter, so Ali would be receiving a new scarf and hat no matter what