Reverb for December 5th: What did you let go of this year? Why?
I took this polaroid in early spring, on the campus of University of Miami. Trotting along to my geography class, I was seven minutes late when I noticed a very peculiar tree on the horizon. It was a smaller tree, with fewer branches than his neighbors, and it was wearing a knitted sweater. This was the tree that helped me let go.
The Knitting Bandit came in the black of night and gave this tree a sweater. I stood there gawking at the well-clothed branches, wondering HOW IN THE WORLD it was possible to knit a tree sweater in the middle of a college campus without anybody catching you in the act. I legged it from the tree to my dorm room, grabbed my polaroid SX-70, and mentally justified the clear and present need for immediate documentation of this inexplicably awesome event. Class would have to wait for a different day.
The turtle-necked tree soon became a force of gravity on campus. Word spread. People came by to take photos, caress the color-clad branches, and discuss their quick-stitch knitting theories. People came by to smile in happy confusion. I was so happily confused by this maven of moonlit knitting— no name attached, making art in the name of surprise and whimsy and fun. They had a crazy idea, and they seriously went for it. It resulted in an exponential increase in daily smiles for an entire college community.
The knitted tree became a symbol of the crazy, creative, completely impractical idea brought to life for all the world to see. It became my sign for letting go of practicality, letting go of the notion that days need to be routine, and letting go of the pesky inner critic saying no you can’t because it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t need to make sense. It just needs to make you smile.
5/31: This post is part of the December promptathon, #reverb10.
Love this post! Your writing is lovely and you absolutely captured this moment. I almost felt I was there with you!
i love those sweatered trees, and i love the way you write about them as teachers.
We had a bus stop covered in knitting or crochet a few months ago and each time I passed it, I was struck by the gift of the art and time involved. So, I really enjoyed your post and relating that art to letting go.
That’s a great polaroid–of a very fun sweater. what a gift (your experience and your writing).
Oh wow, Cassie! So beautifully written and such an awesome concept. I love everything about this.
utterly delightful – this post, the photo, the tree, your message and the inspiration behind it!
I just posted one of my pictures of sweatered parking meters. Aren’t these random acts amazing?
http://houseofowls.com/
This is the link that was supposed to accompany my comment. I was a little to quick with the submit button after my Ctrl-V
http://chapternumberfour.blogspot.com/2010/12/through-lens.html