THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION PAGE 48 APRIL/MAY 2022 theconnectionsnj.com As a member of a writer’s group, I am asked from time to time to suggest a topic or a word that becomes the prompt for our next essay. Most recently, I suggested the word Anticipation, since I feel this is a year of just that, or at least, for me and my family. This is the year our grandson, Jake, graduates from high school, heads to college and takes his steps toward his career, not simply his education. There is an air of anticipation around his decisions…which college will he attend, will he participate on a sports team, what will be his area of interest, is there Graduate School in his future? As I think about it, this group of students has been impacted by so many dramatic events in society. Sadly, they have encountered and been guided to deal with a pandemic and its concomitant virtual learning, frightening gun violence including lockdown drills and lockdowns, climate change, financial crisis, society’s recognition of gender differences, well, the list can go on and on. They are probably the most resilient generation we have seen since the “greatest generation” who were their great-grandparents. For those of us who wondered if they would ever take their eyes off their electronic devices, this generation has proven to be able to spring back into shape, to be flexible, pliable and stronger than many before them. Focusing on this year for Jake, and his sister, Jess and cousin, Maddie, who will begin applying to colleges next fall, has brought me back to my own applications and hopes for the future so many decades ago. At that time, I was a stranger to the college process since, like most of my friends, I was the first generation in my family to attend college. (My father had planned on attending Columbia University on a math scholarship but enlisted in the Marines after Pearl Harbor.) There was a sense of pride in being able to apply to college, a future that would be written by a desire to work and study hard, and an ability to have a successful career. My dreams were immense, and the sky was the limit! I want and must anticipate the same for my grandchildren as they approach this exciting time of their lives. The three of them are focused on their goals, know where their interests lie, know what it will take to achieve the success they desire. Never in our history have there been as many opportunities for them to “try on” different ways of accomplishing their success. It amazes me to watch how in some way all of them, including our youngest grandson, Max, are always able to figure out a different way to fix a technological glitch, they are always able to figure out a different way to look at a problem. Their ability to be facile around technology may just be a metaphor for their ability to create unique and unexpected jobs, needs for their skills, and other capabilities. At one time, I had mentioned to one of my daughters that a young cashier at a supermarket looked at a check I wrote with confused eyes, and it struck me as such a lack of knowledge on her part. My daughter’s answer was, “well, Mom, she might not be familiar with the check-writing process, but she can probably give you 5 different ways that she can deal with payment that don’t involve a check!” She was so right…now there are many automatic methods and, a dinosaur that I am, I continue to write checks. Anticipating the next steps taken by society’s evolution is way beyond my ken. My imagination ceases to exist in this regard. But the world in which my grandchildren are living is in constant reinvention, and that is very exciting. I am certain we will all benefit by the imagination of this generation. Anticipate with me the changes in the world of medicine; the ways to deal with climate change; the ability to bring people from all over the world to the table to save our planet from the effects of the industrial and technological revolution, and on and on. Our hopes for a better future lie in their minds, their experiences, their determination, their creativity, their openness and ability to respect each other. I anticipate we will not be disappointed in what these beautiful young people achieve because, at the end of the day, our hopes rest on their very capable and resilient shoulders. As I think about it, this group of students has been impacted by so many dramatic events in society. Sadly, they have encountered and been guided to deal with a pandemic and its concomitant virtual learning, frightening gun violence including lockdown drills and lockdowns, climate change, financial crisis, society’s recognition of gender differences, well, the list can go on and on. … This generation has proven to be able to spring back into shape, to be flexible, pliable and stronger than many before them. Our hopes for a better future lie in their minds, their experiences, their determination, their creativity, their openness and ability to respect each other. ANTICIPATION Slice of Life By Ellyn Mantell One cold winter evening, Richa Gupta and Sudha Pai got together with a few friends in their basement to knit and crochet chemo caps for cancer patients. Little did they know the impact this activity would have not only on the patients but on their members too! Today, Knit Crochet with Love (KCWL) has grown into a full-fledged non-profit organization of dedicated and caring members across the country with the motto to “Provide a drop of comfort, one cap at a time”. For a nominal yearly membership of $25.00, members get unlimited yarn and guidance to make chemo caps and blankets. Over the last 5 years, KCWL has been growing steadily in NJ with 4 different locations namely, Basking Ridge, Chatham, South Brunswick and Princeton. KCWL has a few out-of-state members as well. KCWL members have made over 10,000 caps and 150 blankets. Each cap or blanket is labeled, washed and packed in boxes and sent out to cancer centers and hospitals in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City, Maryland, Chicago and the United Kingdom. Members have made caps for dislocated refugees from Afghanistan, LGBT kids and the Basking Ridge school crossing guards. Additionally, they have regularly donated lap blankets to the Dialysis center and the homeless shelters in Trenton and NY City. When wildlife in Australia was endangered, KCWL members made knitted nests to save the birds. As part of the innovation/creativity club, KCWL taught crochet to middle and high school students at the Rutgers Preparatory School, NJ. In addition to gaining a new skill, the students and their parents felt that the time was well spent supporting the worthy cause. Many students found this activity to be relaxing. Hence, KCWL would like to introduce knitting and crocheting to other middle and high schools. In March 2020, when disposable face masks were unavailable for the frontline health care workers, KCWL members set aside their knitting needles and crochet hooks to make over 10,000 fabric masks and surgical caps. This was a community project whose success depended on its dedicated members along with the residents of Basking Ridge and neighboring towns. Richa and Sudha were featured on Patch, NJ 12 News and TV Asia to talk about KCWL and its involvement with the community. They received the Valairco award for community service and a $2000 grant from Rutgers School Of Medicine. “Thank you letters” from various hospitals and patients receiving caps/blankets, have continued to inspire and motivate KCWL members. The members find knitting and crocheting therapeutic, relaxing, calming and meditative. KCWL has helped form new friendships and bonds. The group members along with Richa and Sudha, continue to make caps and blankets while keeping a busy work and home schedule. A lot of companies encourage their employees to engage in community service and reward charities and as part of that, some of the KCWL members and their colleagues have listed KCWL as their preferred charity for corporate support. With the help of corporate and private donors, KCWL has been able to serve the community in multiple ways. Since March 2020 with the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, KCWL has temporarily terminated its in-person meetings but is hopeful of resuming its weekly meetings very soon. For more information or to become a member visit www.knittcrochetwithlove.org Email:knitcrochetwithlove@gmail.com Instagram: https://www. instagram.com/knitcrochetwithlove/ Facebook group request: https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/804296159712983/ KNIT CROCHET WITH LOVE (KCWL) KCWL members have made over 10,000 caps and 150 blankets. Each cap or blanket is labeled, washed and packed in boxes and sent out to cancer centers and hospitals in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City, Maryland, Chicago and the United Kingdom. Members have made caps for dislocated refugees from Afghanistan, LGBT kids and the Basking Ridge school crossing guards. Additionally, they have regularly donated lap blankets to the Dialysis center and the homeless shelters in Trenton and NY City. When wildlife in Australia was endangered, KCWL members made knitted nests to save the birds. Community News...
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