When I was studying law a life time ago, there was a lecturer that I had for torts. He was one of my favourite lecturers.... very eccentric and had a strange vulnerability about him that touched me. He would incessantly talk to himself as he would walk the hallways and even during the class. It was very distracting and odd. He had a cheerful disposition and was always so helpful and kind. Just a sweetheart. And he would always wear the same two hand knitted jumpers. One was red and one was dark blue and they were pilling and scuffed and the wool was all frayed at the wrists, waist and neckline. Those jumpers were literally fraying apart. Many students would make fun of him but I saw and felt something deeper about him than mere eccentric academic madness. There was something more profound. I had found out from a fellow lecturer that he had lost his wife 20 odd years prior and she had knitted those jumpers for him. Despite expressing appreciation for being given jumpers for Christmas by his fellow academic staff, he never wore them. He steadfastly kept wearing those same old fraying pilling jumpers everywhere. Everyday. And after some time, I realised he was not mad ... he was in pain. And he wore those precious jumpers so that he could still feel HER. Still feel her holding him and embracing him with her love with every single stitch of the yarn that she had so lovingly knit so many years ago when she still breathed life. I think he will continue wearing those treasured jumpers until they are only held together by a single thread of wool. That is love.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 10:34:22 +0000
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