Wood carving class relieved stress

"What's next - basket weaving?" was my daughter's response upon learning that I crashed a wood carving class last week.

Maybe. I haven't decided yet.

I have always been fascinated by those who could take what used to be a tree and turn it into any number of things. I don't have that kind of vision. But the class was free and the people were friendly.

The first thing I learned was that there was no way in the world I could hold the knife properly. Chuck tried to show me, he really did. I think it was because it was a right-handed knife and I am a confirmed lefty.

Nobody bought that explanation.

I had brought along a co-worker for support. She didn't do any better than I did but she had a cute young guy helping her out. One of the ladies from the book reading group arrived late. I prayed that she wouldn't start singing because the last time she did I had her song stuck in my head for a week.

There was a blue-eyed guy who was working on a block of wood. He said it was going to be a Santa. I have to take his word for it as it still looked like a block of wood at the end of the evening. A lady working on what seemed to me to be a huge project rounded out the class. She brought candy. I like her.

Chuck supplied my friend and I with stars to work on. We obediently whittled away, not quite sure just what we were doing.

It was the fastest two hours I have spent in ages. I can't wait to go back.

I have found that learning something new is the best anti-depressant in the world. When I am concentrating on learning a new skill time flies. All thoughts of dreary November skies, high heat bills and heaps of other worries disappear. Nothing aches, not even my soul. If the pharmaceutical companies could bottle that feeling they would make even more millions than they do now.

I am very thankful that I can still feel that excitement and energy. There is nothing like giving something my full attention to make time fly.

Friendly people and new experiences are just a few of the things I am thankful for in this time of reflection and thanks giving. I sometimes forget how lucky I am to have a job, a roof over my head and enough body fat to see me though a small famine.

It is far too easy to concentrate on how far-flung the family has become. It is too easy to think about the ones who won't be getting together this holiday season. It's too easy to get lost in grey skies and bone-chilling rain. The darkness of the days seeps into my soul and chills me to the bone.

Then along comes an opportunity to learn something new and I'm as happy as a kid in a candy store. It was chance or maybe providence that led me to the open door. I had gone to pick up my husband after one of his tutoring sessions (he was the tutor) and was early. Nosy me, I just had to go poking around. Someone said, "Come on in, join us." I took a chance.

Now I can't wait to go back. Maybe if I stick with it, by this time next year I might get the knack of holding the knife correctly. I can't say that I'll ever make anything recognizable, but I sure intend to have fun trying.[[In-content Ad]]