It's Just that Simple

I must say, the quilt isn't folded very often.  I'm going to have to put it away our it will be very difficult to part with.  Shortly after I finished our blanket, I decided to make Betty & Veronica graduation quilts.  I thought this was a great plan since I gave myself a 2 year deadline!  And why not?  B & V deserve some handmade lovin'.  I adore my B & V!  ADORE!  This post is another reason why it's a good thing that our mother doesn't know about the blog.  As soon as she'd finish reading, I'd get a call or a comment full of tone.  "You should declare your love for all of your nieces & nephews equally.  Post about all of them.  Now!"  But as I've told her numerous times, B & V are different.

Ava had B & V while I was in eighth grade.  Our mother was very good at reminding us that we had all of our lives to be adults.  There were no drop-offs at the mall or pseudo-dates while we were in grade school.  We were simply dorky kids.  I'm aware that being in the eighth grade now is completely different than in 1990, but I'm pretty sure our mother wouldn't have budge on her strictness.  When B &V came to visit, it was all about them.  A number of things made their visits memorable.  First, since they're twins no one got to hog all the baby love.  Second, they were the best babies on this earth.  This fact has made it very difficult for me to call Ava & ask how to calm an irrational 18 month-old.  Her response is always, "I don't know.  B & V never did that."  Third, when they came to visit it wasn't for a day.  We got to play for a week on most visits.  In every sense of the phrase, I grew up with B & V.

They have have grown into smart, funny & beautiful people that I enjoy hanging out with.  Our conversations have grown from Beannie Babies, to college bound boyfriends, to inappropriate American Idol chatter.   Someday when I call to talk with Ava, I know that they won't be there but they'll be studying in their dorms.  I'm about to cry right now just thinking about that day.  So yes, I love all my nieces & nephews very very much.  But B & V are different.  They taught me how to be an aunt.

For these lovely ladies, how could I not give them the best I can push through my sewing machine?  I stuck to a simple pattern.  First, I wanted to show off the material.  Second, I wanted to make sure that I could complete a quilt without a lot of ripping & screaming.  There are a couple of things that I will do differently on the next one.  I will cut the quilt sandwich even prior to sewing the binding.  I will have my mom help me with how to connect the end to the beginning of the binding strip.  I fudged it after a couple of attempts, but I don't think she'll notice.  It's a good thing Ava had twins.  I've got another reason to hit the fabric stores.

Betty & Veronica,
When you go to college, try not to spill beer on the blanket.  If you have hippie friends (we all have them), don't spill bong water on the blanket.  And please, don't drop pizza on the blanket.  If you do, wash & dry it!  Just don't leave the laundry room or someone will take it.  Trust me, I've had less stolen.  I have a feeling that you won't need those words of warning.  You'll be studying, drinking healthy amounts of water & snacking on almonds.  Right?  Just say "yes" or else SK will go insane.
Love,
Auntie Lola

p.s.
I can't even comment on Ms. Spears performance.  I missed it, but have seen enough to feel sad & wounded.  I had such high hopes, Brit.  Someday you'll be back.

Comments

[Faith]

You have the most perfect color of green running throughout that quilt! Such a lovely post, B&V are lucky ladies.

[Susan]

Forget spilling bong water or dropping pizza on it - make sure if they have any friends who are going through that insanely stupid "it's soooo cool to smoke!" phase that they strictly forbid anyone to light up even a single contraband cig within 50 feet of that green lovely.

.....and make sure to include even clove cigarettes, which are just the wee tiniest bit cool, in a still supremely stupid lung-cancer kind of way....

[mamie]

you are such a great auntie..and twins are the best, there really always is another baby to love in those big families that cannot get enough. love your sister and your writing and i am so glad i get to follow along in how things are going. the quilt is lovely.

[Ava]

You bitch . . . as if I needed reasons to cry. Thanks for getting me all misty eyed. Lots of fun in a house with three slightly crazy chicks on their periods. Lucky Flyer . . . he's in Orlando (which he hates). The girls totally hit the jackpot with you in the aunt category - even if they never, ever have called you "aunt" a day in your life. Love you! And I promise I will post by Friday (the school year has just not slowed up one little bit).

[Sarah]

What a nice auntie! Gorgeous work!

[kelly mccaleb]

i adore this quilt!!!