I discovered last August that the flagship Joann Fabrics store is about 10 miles north of Akron. It sits in all it’s gorgeousness in a grassy corporate complex, with the store on the right and the corporate offices to the left. The first time I saw the store, I swore that glorious strains of classical music drifted down from the heavens while sunbeams and rainbows led to the door. Once inside, however, it was too much; too many flowing, shimmering, and velvety choices. I was so overwhelmed by the selection that I just wandered the aisles for a few minutes and left empty-handed.
This year I have returned twice with a new strategy. I already have sewing patterns in hand and know what I need. I do some advance work on Joann’s website, and I wait for the right coupons to appear in the Joann app. Then I strike. Bam. Done.
I will leave next week with fond memories of Palace Joann. There, I reintroduced myself to sewing for babies. I fondled every piece of fleece and every scrap of flannel. I learned that wherever two or more grandmas gather, it is an instant sisterhood. As we chatter, someone eavesdropping in the next aisle who didn’t see our gray hair might think it was two giddy expectant mothers talking.
“When is yours due?”
“Boy or Girl?”
“Is this your first?”
“How is it going?”
“You are having twins! How cool.”
“Do you think these two fabrics would go together in a quilt?”
Reallly, it is just us grandmas-in-waiting, which is so, so much better than being the progenitor. We need not carry this one around while he/she kicks our internal organs and distorts our bodies. This time, our lovely D’s and DILS will spit em out for us. Morning sickness? Nope! Yeah, after the birth, the dad and other family get to hold the baby before the pecking order allows grandma to marvel close-up at the little bundle, but after the excitement is over and things calm down that baby belongs to the grandmas. Who says aging stinks? Without any of the hard work of growing the baby, grandmas can savor moments of endless joy, goo-goo-ing and cuddling then mercilessly spoiling them when the parents are not looking.
About 9 weeks to go, sweet DIL. Thanks for all your dedication and hard work. And next time, could you please make it twins, one of each? Would it be too much to ask for identical triplets after that? You would only endure 3 pregnancies while creating 6 grandbabies for your mom and me. Think of all the colorful sewing I could do!
