Crafting Disease

For years my husband has teased me about my creativity. He says,
"It's a disease."

Once I start, I can't stop – only a deadline halts the flow. As soon as I finish one project, the next one begins to roll –
like tobacco
into a cigarette
for a chain smoker...

I wonder:
Does that make me –
a chain crafter?


Saturday morning I was coming off "my high" having created the "Nook-
in-
a-
Bag."

When I asked Aaron for his opinion of its contents, this 11-year-old gave me a dead-pan stare. I coaxed, "What? Do you think I'm nuts?"

"Only mostly," my son spouted. I laughed, "Well, you're honest." Mentally, I vowed: "Enough!"

Coach Dan and Aaron dropped off Isaac at school to catch the bus for his eighth-grade basketball tournament, picked up a sixth-grade teammate and drove to their own tournament.

That left Noah with me.

I pleaded once more:

"Look! I got you these spiffy clothes for the wedding.

"Your cousins will be there. I'd love to have somebody go with me. Don't you want to be my date?"

My first-grader glared, "I'M going to GRANDMA's."

So to Grandma's we went, before I headed to the wedding alone.

During the hour drive, I confronted my disease. I'd spent many hours lavishly crafting an afghan, coordinating pillows and gift bag for my cousin and his bride. Five years ago at his sister's wedding, I played "photographer" shooting rolls of film to capture casual scenes – my "extra" gift to her and the groom. Since then, his sister had outfitted herself as their family photographer. SO! For the rest of today I would "sit back" as an inconspicuous wedding guest.

At the church, the usher offered me both his elbow and seating info: "I've been instructed to sit you with your sister."

"Great. Take me to her," I smiled looking at one sister and her family in the back. The usher grinned, "She's in the third pew."

"OH!" I looked upfront at another sister and her daughter. So much for my plans to "sit back." I sat down next to them and said, "Nothing like an up-close view." Brenda said, "They needed people to fill into the front."

Soon our cousin – the groom – took his place standing just feet from us. For a flannel-and-jeans guy, he glowed in a black suit. Brenda whispered, "You should get a picture."

I hesitated. Hadn't I promised myself to "sit back?"

Well... maybe just one. I mean how often is Trevor decked out? I pulled out my camera and shot one. I couldn't resist snapping another of his brother – dressed as the best man. Hey, I can't forget the bride.


The
creativity
began
to
flow.

I had a great spot sitting behind his parents.


Why not capture them in the foreground watching their middle child's marriage?
Soon I was

seeing interesting
angles,

wondering about
bright exposures,

snapping the
reception line,

driving back
for an outdoor shot
of the church,

capturing the dinner,


watching

the magic

of the dance

and

70-frames later...

falling

victim to

my Crafting Disease.

I wonder: Is there a "Craft Patch?" Maybe then – like a smoker using a nicotine one – I could kick this habit.