Dying Sucks

Over the weekend, one of my knitting buddies died in her sleep. I know what you're probably thinking. That this is an occupational hazard that comes from hanging out with knitters because knitters = old ladies. And sometimes, yes, that's true. We lost a knitter a year ago, a woman in her seventies who had been a long time survivor of cancer. But just because she was old(ish) and ill, doesn't mean that it hurt any less to lose her.

Last weekend, our friend Jan passed away in her sleep. Dying in your sleep is practically a cliche, a positive spin on a terrible tragedy. Dying in your sleep makes death seem like an extension of sleeping, a seamless transition. But the thing is, Jan was too young and it was too sudden. While I find some comfort in the idea that she passed away peacefully, it still doesn't make her loss hurt any less.

I raided the Knit Nook blog archives and found this picture of Jan, showing off an almost finished pair of two at a time socks (and if you knit, you know that this is a real achievement).

Jan was an enthusiastic knitter, but most importantly, she was a great friend.

She will be missed.