The Venerable Bead

There was a big bead show in Marlborough MA this past weekend and I practically had to hog tie myself to my beading chair to keep myself from going. Must not buy beads. Must save money for my trip. It was tough but I made up for it by taking a ride this week to Onleyville to my favorite bead warehouse, Wolf E Myrow. It was pouring out that day. I bought my daughter her first beading kit. Brightly colored plastic beads and some gold elastic to string them on. She was very excited. We met a very interesting woman there. She started beading last year after having brain surgery. She said beading has saved her life. They took a tumor the size of a golfball out of her brain, half her face is still paralyzed, and she had to learn how to walk, eat and drive all over again. But she beads. She beads and beading is going to fill the void that *disability* stole. She can't work in the medical field anymore but she can create beautiful wearable creations and those creations will bring joy to everyone who buys them. She was inspirational. Resiliant. The resiliant nature of people never ceases to amaze me. Art is supposed to be a luxury not a life raft. It takes something special to recognize the life saving force in Art. I thank my new friend for reminding me to teach my daughter this. It was still raining when we left the warehouse. Emma and I laughed as we ran through all the puddles to the car. When we got home we strung bracelets together. It was a perfect day.