Touched by EZ - claiming memories

Yes dear people, imagine the luck. I decided for my birthday to treat myself to a tiny gift - behold - the first edition of "Knitting Without Tears" from Elizabeth Zimmerman - yes, it's a bit worn on the cover, but inside it holds many gifts - along with the stories and gentle guiding hand of EZ....

it's also autographed!

I am so excited to have a copy of the book that was physically held by the genius herself (even if it was just for a second in 1979 so she could sign it) - I know it's a bit silly to feel this way, but I have a part of me that feels connection to things of the past - I like knowing that the artist herself held this book; now my book - and that somehow I am now connected to her through this object - she was real (just like me) and fleeting (just like me) -

The book has some notes written by a previous knitter - just inside the back cover - it's these gems that make me smile - knowing someone before me was holding the book, learning (as I am) and taking the same path I am taking. This person has most likely passed on now - but their memory lives on, and I find a bit of comfort in this. It's the "dust to dust thing again; remembering that sooner or later, we're all going to be gone - and while she is having influence on me even never meeting me, that maybe one day I will have influence on someone else - even after this life is gone. I heard someone say in the past few months - that life is terminal - it was a paralyzing and comical thought - life IS short - I know that - and I also know that sharing stories with others is important - honoring someone with memory is the greatest compliment we can offer them - I love my book and I'm honored to be its keeper until I pass it on to someone else...