A Fond Farewell

My parents & I stood in the parking lot at the MetroNorth train station.  I was getting ready to board the train into Manhattan, and after a few errands, onto a bus to LaGuardia and then onto my plane ride back to NFLD.
With an affectionate pat, my Mother said "bye bye baby".

....
The pats were delivered to my rolling carry-on bag.  Inside, the bag contained this Singer sewing machine.

We bust out into a hearty laugh.

Mom taught us to sew on it and it was a huge part of our home for many years.  I can picture so many of the clothes Mom made me when I was allowed to choose a pattern, or choose the fabric and in really happy instances, both.  And then the enormous satisfaction I enjoyed when I was able to make my own clothes or furnishings.   While I was in NY, she opened it up (she hadn't used it in many years), oiled and lubricated it.  We were a little worried it wouldn't run properly.  We plugged it in and hit the power....and it ran like it always had - it purred and raced and made perfect stitches.  She then took it out of the cabinet it's been in for decades and into my suitcase it went.  At LaGuardia's security screening, I was asked if I was a professional seamstress.  I guess they don't see many of these coming thru!

It's sitting in a cabinet Greg got for me.  I'm looking forwarding to making drapes and shades for the house (and maybe some clothing).

(Mom gave me a loving farewell too, with a strong embrace an anaconda would envy.)   ;-)