Now for that story…

Apparently, after all these years of knitting, I still can’t get it through my 58-year-old brain that it’s meant to be relaxing – not a life-or-death competition with myself.

And so it came to be that I embarked on the first flight to England with a cast-on and a dream, to make an entire “Bea Top” by PetiteKnit on the journey.

It all went pretty well at first. I was making great progress. Somewhere across the Atlantic, my shoulder began to complain, quietly. So I adjusted positions and pressed on…and on…and on.

By the time we arrived in London, I’d knit about 8 inches of sweater, but I could tell my shoulder was done.

And by the time we’d finished filming with Erika Knight and Debbie Bliss, I woke up and couldn’t move my shoulder, my arm or my hand. It was completely locked up and even Advil wouldn’t touch the pain. Looking back, you can see it in my face…

Thank goodness for Season 11 Star Alice Hammer, who directed me to her Chinese Medicine practitioner in Vichy, France. I hobbled my way there, early on the morning after we arrived in Vichy. And he performed true miracles with acupuncture and energy healing.

(“You have too much fire,” he said, pointing to his poster of the five elements of Chinese medicine. “You need more water, more calm.”)

Hmmm yes, so I’ve been told. 😅

So with my shoulder tenderly un-frozen, I hobbled back the mile or so toward my hotel. I was almost back when I heard some enchanting music start up, somewhere in the distance. I knew there was some kind of festival going on, so I let my curiosity lead me toward the music.

And oh my goodness, look who I found!