On Monday night our town held Annual Town Meeting. This is something I always attend, many years ago as a Department Head and then for the last twenty-one years as a town resident and registered voter. I always sit with Dale and our friends in the same general area. And I always knit during the meeting.
You know where this is going, right?
Now that I am a selectman in town I sit up on the stage with my colleagues on the board and various other town officials. And I can’t knit, of course. You all know that I can absolutely pay attention while I’m knitting but the average non-knitter doesn’t know that and, let’s face it, I’m there to do a job and knitting just isn’t part of that gig.
Can I just say, of all the things I considered when I decided to run for selectman . . . the things I knew would be challenging . . . the sacrifices I might have to make . . . not knitting at town meeting never even crossed my mind. You know when it finally dawned on me that I couldn’t bring my knitting? About 30 minutes before the meeting. I can’t help but wonder, if I had considered this particular sacrifice back in January when I made my decision to run, if I would have chosen differently.
You know I’m kidding. Mostly.
If I had actually been knitting, I would have been working on these socks.
Halloween colors, yes, but at the rate I finish a pair of socks these days, well, I don’t think it’s too early to be working on them.
It must have been hard to sit there without knitting ! But I agree, it can be uncomfortable to knit in front of people who think it means lack of engagement with whatever is in the room. You need to start a town wide knitting club 😉
You just crack me up. XO Maybe you could become “The Knitting Selectman.” It could be your next campaign tagline . . .
(Fun socks, by the way.)
🙂
I am with Kym… a Knitting Selectperson seems totally appropriate – and would show again, the fabulousness of multi-tasking women who can do all the things, and do them exceedingly well!
And… I love those socks! XOXO
Maybe you can very gradually bring the town around to accept that you are paying attention so you can knit during Town Meeting in your second term. I really like Kym’s idea of “The Knitting Selectman”!
Sacrifices must be made for democracy! I’m sure there’s some fancy quote about unexpected sacrifices being of greater value than those we knowingly make. Meanwhile… socks! (But I refuse to think about Halloween yet.)
Well…I’ve been a town meeting slacker for quite a few years but now that Doug is serving on the Finance Committee I will go. And because we’re friends I’ll knit there in your honor! 🙂
There are many sacrifices people make when they get into politics, but this is one of the hardest. You may have trouble giving up your knitting, but you know it is for a great cause. With pen in hand you’ll look like you’re doing your job, which is crucial to the people of your town. Maybe you can slowly introduce the town to your abilities to be a knitter and a listener!
I find my mind wanders less and I listen better when I knit, but I agree that non-knitters would never understand this. Such sacrifices!
That is a sacrifice! Good thing you didn’t think of it. I pulled out my knitting at an office retreat once, and all the men in the room suddenly went quiet. I assured them I could listen, and over the course of the day, they accepted it. I couldn’t face just sitting there all day long with no diversions!
I feel your pain. I used to be able to knit at work during my down time (I have hours and hours of down time each day, assuming everyone else is doing their job properly.) but now I can’t. It absolutely Kills me to sit there and think about the missed knitting opportunities.
LOVE your sock!
I read all the comments about knitting (or crocheting) during a meeting and suddenly came up with a reason why people may not like it. These two are the only things that are portable and do not always require attention but people like to do 1,000 piece puzzles or play the piano require attention or extra space, etc.
Love the socks, especially the colors!
Funny you should say that. I didn’t bring knitting to Town Meeting because I feared it might seem disrespectful. But when I looked out over the gym from my bleacher seat, I counted at least 12 knitters in the crowd. Some of them confessed though, that they made mistakes that they had to undo later when discussion became heated!
The comment thread is so interesting! of course people who doodle (or daydream) don’t have to worry about looking like they’re not paying attention. I sure hope your town appreciates your commitment!
I love those halloween-y stripes!