Skills of a Lifetime

While mending a very nice black stripped wool suit purchased for $1 at a yard sale, the daughter of my friend took note of my sewing ability. Surprisingly, she asked me, "You can sew?" To which I responded yes. Then, she spoke up in the presence of her mom and asked, "Can you sew my sweat suit for me? It ripped." I agreed to do so, but at the same time wondered why she couldn't have her mother do it, or better yet, do it herself. She was a grown woman with a daughter. I realized she like so many others probably didn't know how to sew.

Analyzing my own sewing talents, not meaning to gloat by any means, of course, I'm not sure how I could have survived without knowing how to sew. From sewing on a button, to hemming a skirt, or fixing a rip, if I didn't know how to do it myself, I'd have to pay someone else do to it for me. And that just doesn't seem right. How grateful I am for the many years of Home Economics class taken in public school. Of course, I'm not sure I could have gotten away with not taking the Home Ec classes with a mother having a degree in Home Economics, but that's another story.

My memories of Home Ec class are fond ones. All of my teachers enjoyed their craft and the subject, which made things all the more fun for us students. We made crepes and small cakes during the cooking session. We learned how to measure, how to beat, and how to bake. In the sewing portion of the class, we were educated on how to do cross-stitch. I still have the small blue and white checkered pincushion on which I had embroidered the letter P. We learned to hand sew and to sew on the machine.

I did well in the class, mostly because I enjoyed it, but it was also a way to express creativity. In high school, I ordered Spiegel magazine and bought patterns similar to what I saw the models wearing. I would make the clothes myself since I couldn't buy the actual outfits in the mag. My sewing endeavors even turned into a part-time venture as I sewed outfits for others.

One year I received the "Best Home Economics Student" award at a school ceremony. My gift was a cookbook, which is now all stained with flour mixtures, milk, and who knows what else is lurking between the pages, which many times I have to pry apart gently so they don't rip.

My favorite Home Ec teacher was Maggie Lewis. She was kind, yet tough when she needed to be. She had a good sense of humor as well. One day, I had a toothache, which made me talk strangely out of one side of my mouth. When Ms. Lewis noticed the way I talked, she told to me remove the stick pins from my mouth. You see, when sewing sometimes the most convenient place to put items you need while your hands are full is in your mouth. Momentarily, of course. I explained to her nothing was in my mouth, but I had a toothache. She just laughed.

One of the greatest lessons I carry with me until this day learned from Ms. Lewis is one that had very little to do with sewing or cooking. It was the end of the class and Ms. Lewis was packing up for the day. She took out her purse, removed her lipstick, and started putting some on her lips. I spoke up in the wisdom of all of my 16 years said to her, "You are putting makeup on for your husband." She came back with the following words, "No, I don't wear makeup for my husband, I wear it for myself."

At first, I was taken aback slightly. 'She wears makeup for herself?' I thought to myself. However, the more I thought about it, the more I came to understand and fully appreciate what she meant. She put on makeup because it made her feel good about herself it made her happy. Not that it was about the exterior providing completion, or making her feel whole, but she lived for herself, she did for herself, not necessarily for anyone else.

What a powerful lesson from a very special public school teacher! Do for yourself. It's okay to do for yourself. Ms. Lewis not only taught me practical lessons on how to hem and mend, but how to live and feel okay with doing for myself. Blessings to public education and skills it taught: to fix, stitch, and secure.