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July 26, 2006
Things the ocean does that are like knitting
or What The Water Gave Me.
Oh, I am just now beginning to get my brane back after the whirlwind that was last week in Bethany Beach!
(At this point, the Knit-A-Log would like to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to Molly, Squirrel, [aka Rob Helpychalk]Caroline, and Joseph in particular, for their friendship, kind sponsorship, and allowing me to participate in their family summer vacation- year after year. Also to friends old and new~ Flo and Cody, Polly, Eric, Cleo, Tess, Corrie [I hope I'm spelling your name right] Grey and Chris, for sharing in the beach house experience! Wonderful friends, and great beach house companions, all!)
Oh! There is so much to tell! And some pictures, which, in the Knit-A-Log tradition I can only tease you with the idea of, dear readers, here's why! It was a disposable camera, as the only digital camera at the beach was Squirrel's, and there are conflicting stories as to how it came to be nonfunctional. But with the thought of the Knit-A-Log having no visual story to tell (not unusual but still) was too much! I broke down. I got a disposable camera, thinking it would be terribly clever to get a CD, pop that thing in, and upload! Alas and alack! My CD drive is broken, and has been for some time. D'oh.
But there will be photos, soon! Soon!!
But I digress.
Because really, the thing I was thinking about at 3:00 am was how many times I tried to memorize the things I learned from nearness to the ocean. Did you know? Sometimes I believe we are drawn to the water because we are made from it. Not just in a literal sense, but because it is pure visual evidence that there are mysterious forces at work so much stronger than our tiny selves. And are kind to us, when they want to be, and also brutal, - I like to believe more kind than brutal. Even though I am afraid of the waves. It makes me think of god a lot.
In a less cosmic sense (or maybe equally??), on my walks early in the mornings, on a few occasions I observed patterns in the waves- especially as they flattened on the sand- that so resembled a texture of stitches. Sometimes the pattern came in the form of small, nested and interlocking arches, the kind seen printed on decorative Japanese paper where it can symbolize water. In knitting, its a fan and feather pattern. It made me think of knitted lace shawls, and lighthouse keeper's wives. There is also a criss-cross pattern, which becomes etched in the wet sand, in a grid suggestive of stockinette stitch, and I thought, it is not surprising this art developed, of repetitive and soothing motions. The results of which keep us comforted and warm from the elements. Cold raindrops on bare shoulders in summer, on an overcast morning made me think of Faroese shawls.
The waves wear lace which ravels and unravels, in the legs of the jellyfish. And it all repeats, repeats, and repeats.
Posted by pippypippy at July 26, 2006 03:13 AM
Comments
oh Pippy, that was beautiful.
we are always happy to have you!
Posted by: rob helpy-chalk at July 26, 2006 05:48 AM
tres nice..watching the ocean at night lets me see Things
Posted by: john r at July 26, 2006 12:37 PM
Speaking of knitting and water, in the Upanishads we find the following conundrum, only coincidentally alliterative in its English translation: "O Gargi, whereon is the water woven as warp and weft?"
I don't know what warp and weft are, exactly, but I think the point is to draw out what in water is unlike, as opposed to like, weaving (which I think is like knitting): form cannot be imposed upon what is essentially in flux. You've made the opposite point, but there's still something as beautiful as anything in classical Sanskrit literature in your post-beach post. Hereon, O Pippy, is the water woven.
Posted by: Justin at July 26, 2006 05:26 PM
Hey,
I think the water and its patterns, movements, and tendencies are more beautiful than anything knitted or created by humans. But you can't wear a sand bank.
Posted by: bubbaloo at July 27, 2006 07:52 AM
Bubba,
Its true, what you say, about water. And that was part of my point, that we puny humans are drawn in by its beauty, which we then emulate, in our own ways. Not that it emulates us.
In fact, I'm certain that its movements and patterns are attractive to us in some vestigal sense, like we remember our source, in some collective way.
As the youngest beach-goers amongst us demonstrated, you can, in fact, wear quite a bit of sand. Its just not as comfy as a sweater or a nice pair of socks.
Posted by: pippy at July 27, 2006 09:29 AM