K1, P1 Ritzville style

Ritzville, you are awesome! During our church service this morning, Sandy Wilks, Director of the Ritzville Food Bank, reported on the crocheted and knitted hats, scarves and mittens she has already received for the 2012 Christmas boxes that will be distributed the week of Christmas to patrons of the Food Bank. Women and men (yes, I said men) in our community are knitting and crocheting these treasures, and she has already received an impressive number, but needs lots more.

It occurred to me that any group that gathers regularly could provide dozens of hand-made items to keep local children warm during next winter’s frosty mornings and icy afternoons. Knitting and crocheting are easy skills to master, especially for items as basic as hats, scarves and mittens.

A fine example of a group that could render a notable harvest of needed items is the fine men who gather for coffee and conversation every weekday morning at the Ritzville Golf Course clubhouse (9:30). A more compassionate, selfless group you would be hard-pressed to find. They are extraordinary individuals who indulge in coffee and hearty conversations on the crucial issues of the day. While pursuing these heady intellectual interests, their fingers could be flying in a creative frenzy of k1, p1.

Conjure this picture of near civic-minded excellence: Alan, Warren, Martin, Kirk, Dan, Roger, Jimmy, my own beloved Mark, Ozzie, Larry, Mike, Steve and 10 or 15 others whose names I can’t this second summon, bonded together by brilliant intellectual and inspired artistic activity, occurring simultaneously, while their needles click away in a frantic cacophony. That image is near perfection. More importantly, it would result in numerous creations of myriad color and pattern combinations that would be worn and treasured by boys and girls throughout the greater Ritzville area.

Remember Rosie Grier, aka The Refrigerator? He played for the Rams decades ago and blazed the trail to acceptance that a man can knit and be macho. Besides marketing a needlepoint/knitting kit for men in 1973, he was also known for helping to subdue Sirhan Sirhan after he shot Robert Kennedy in 1968. Rosie Grier was no wimpy, metro male that spent his time receiving facials and waxing. Neither are the men who attend the weekday morning coffee gathering.

As an aside, Cary Grant and FDR also knitted.

Women whose husbands, sons and brothers show interest in this idea may want to order for them the well-known book for men, “Knitting With Balls,” (I couldn’t make that up; it’s for real) from Amazon.com. It’s a hands-on guide to knitting for the modern male written by Michael Del Vecchio. It’s one of many books of its kind.

Imagine how conversations might change should these productive men run into one another on the golf course or sidewalk:

“What have you been up to lately?”

“Oh, you know, the usual hats and scarves. I found a nice soft 4-ply in Spokane yesterday and am anxious to get started on a new set.”

“Can’t wait to see it. Bring it to coffee tomorrow? I am stuck on a new ribbing from a book my wife bought for me when she was in Seattle last week. It’s complex and challenging.”

“Did you see the new Seals movie?”

“Oh yeah, wouldn’t miss it. My blood was pumping so furiously that I nearly finished a hat during that intense two hours.”

“I take my knitting everywhere anymore, too. It’s amazing what I can accomplish in an hour or two.”

“I’m on my way to the gun club to try that new 30.06 I bought last month. Want to bag an elk or two this fall.”

“Have fun. I’m going to knit a set of golf club covers and crochet my initials on them. I bought ZAGS colors. Should look hot. “

“Did you see the Victoria Secret show last night on TV?”

“Yeah, sure did. They’d look better in sweaters.”

“I agree. They looked cold and skinny. It’s a shame. Don’t want my daughters looking like that.”

K1, P1, click click click.