An End to a Year, or A LSG Tribute, or Knitters/Crocheters Rock!

My first blog of the new year is about the generous nature of knitters. It is no secret that I love Ravelry. It truly has something for every knitter or crocheter. I have made friends, joined groups and found amazing patterns and new yarns. The A Swap in Time group is a swap group that has become a close group of crafters that are always glad to "see" you. There are funny groups, serious groups and everything in between. When my mother passed away someone recommended the Motherless group. You come to ravelry because you're a knitter/crocheter but it gives you so much more than patterns.

One group I joined this year is the LSG group. It is not for the faint of heart or pearl clutchers. It is a group of women and men that are strange, strong, creative, funny, kind and band together to help one of their own. There is even a Facebook page for our group. It was on this page that I posted a whine about my husband getting a new job. I was upset because it was another trucking job that would take him away from home for weeks at a time. I was pleased that he would be working, but I did not want to be left alone here in this new town. The group gave me support, reassured me that I was not a nut for feeling this way and missing my husband.

A few days later I was given reason to make another post. When Mark went in for his DOT physical the doctor refused to give him a med card. Everything was in well working order, but she decided that since he is diabetic he would need to have his a1c tested again. There was no reason for her to request this test. His sugar levels were within range and the last time he had the a1c test (just before we moved) it was well below where it needed to be. Mark complained to the office nurses and was told that this clinic hated this doctor with a passion. She had recently transferred in and was making every one's life hell. That day alone, she had refused med cards for 3 other truck drivers. For some reason she does not like them.

So, why not go get the a1c tested? Well, it has to be ordered by a doc and then the results are sent to the doc and he/she gives them to you. At this point in time we do not have doctors in our new town. Why? Because no one within a 4 county radius will take our state insurance. We could drive to the town we used to live in and he could have the DOT physical done there for $80. We could drive to the town we used to live in and visit his doc there, have him schedule the a1c, then drive back another day for the results then take those to the clinic down here and hope for the crazy doc lady to hand over a med card. Confusing? Yes, it is. Of course, the big problem with all of this is that we have no money. None. Without the help from Sassafrass and her husband, Chris, we would not have been able to give our children Christmas.

So, I posted about our new troubles on the LSG Facebook page. I was just looking to complain, moan a bit and perhaps get some advice. I got all that but I also got more. These wonderful people banded together and sent what money they could so that we would be able to pay for gas (for the 5 hour round-trip) and to pay for the $80 DOT physical. What a surprise and what a gift from people that only know me from a group on a knitting site. So don't scoff at knitters/crocheters. They keep this world together.

Unfortunately, the trucking company would not hold the job while Mark arranged for the physical, etc. However, I am positive that he is going to get a better job, a job that will allow him to home at night and on the weekends. And he'll be able to get it all because of the help from some damn fine knitters and crocheters.

A jolly good New Year to you all! May it be a year without fear and full of great yarn!!