Monday, February 08, 2010

Me Vs. Actual Me

I have this image of myself. Sure, I know I'm flawed. But I like to think that the image is pretty close to what I envision.

I won't bore you with the details. You probably don't need to hear about how I am poised and clever in all social situations. Or how I can wax philosophical at the drop of a hat and that everyone is always fascinated by what I have to say. In my own personal view, I am also the type who regularly saves kittens from trees and little old ladies from mail fraud. I think I can also fly sometimes, but even I know that is a little over the top...

Yes, in my mind's eye, I'm pretty gosh darned nifty. And my greatest quality? Well that's an easy one to identify. I happen to be a Great Knitter Of Mittens!

Having a good self image is probably something for which to strive. Except for the flying and kitten-saving delusions, I think it is good for my character to think positively. What is not good is being faced with stark evidence to the contrary. That is something of a downer.

As much as I want to believe myself a Mitten Maven, I don't think I am. Would such a person take over a month to knit a pair of mittens? Would she take advantage of every excuse to not knit a mitten just to avoid getting to the thumb part? Would the High Priestess Of Hand Coverings consider not doing the daily ride on the little exercise bike because that is her usual knitting time?

Probably not.

I may have to rethink my Perceptions Of Self. Even if I get to the finish line with these mittens, I don't think that this will qualify me for greatness. A pair of plain mittens, especially plain mittens that are the sole project upon which one is working, should not take over a month. I'll get them done. I'll probably even get them done soon. That is something, I suppose. But it does not make me a Great Knitter Of Mittens.

Time to rethink my whole life and my list of good qualities. But I'm keeping the part where I save little old ladies. And I'll probably fill in the blank left by the mittens with something along the lines of "Lion Tamer."

That will help take the sting out of it...

SA

11 comments:

sheep#100 said...

Number Guy (oh so obviously) points out that you did know that two thumbs were coming when you cast on this project.

Me? I'm staying out of it.

Leslie said...

The AGK is a miniature (relatively speaking) lion, right? So, claiming to be a lion tamer is right on!

Anonymous said...

Maybe so, but do you have your own hat? That is a distinct advantage in the lion-taming field.

Beth said...

Keep going! You can do it! Envision it happening. :)

Kath said...

Would it help to point out that there are worse things that mittens with thumbs? How about....gloves! Aaaaacckkk!!!

=Tamar said...

The Magic Show had a song I liked - "I want to be a lion tamer". I hadn't thought of it in years. Thanks for reminding me.
Mitt thumbs can be a problem even when they aren't actually there. My fingerless mitts have very wide openings so I can type without stressing my thumbs, but they are less warm because of it. Redesign, maybe.

Donna Lee said...

I took well over a week to knit a simple hat pattern and it doesn't have any thumbs. (we won't discuss the mittens that I started last year and are still only half finished).

I think your vision of yourself sounds like it's spot on.

Berta said...

Incentive for finishing mittens? The exact momment you bind off the second thumb all snow will disappear and it will be 60 degrees outside.

gayle said...

But, you work with middle-school children. That makes a lion-tamer's job look... well... *tame* by comparison.

Karen said...

I think the fact that you wrangle kids all day is amazing. The mittens will get done in their own time.

Knitting Linguist said...

Definitely. Lion Tamer is way cooler than Mitten Knitter anyway. Now to find some lions...