No, but I Can Crochet

That one Saturday when the seniors in our church danced the morning away happened again. It’s a once a month event. But this time, we danced only a little, and did something else—crochet—to exercise arthritic hands and fingers. 

The moment Cely, our leader, announced, “Let us crochet,” my mind time-travelled to that other horizon in my other life when I was an EVP in an ad agency. 

We were to shoot a TV commercial with a famous singer/dancer as our talent. Everyone lionized her because she made it to Broadway and starred in one blockbuster musicale. 

I was at the set too early, way before call time. Not one in the production house was there except the security guards. Suddenly the mother of the celebrity walked in and asked in a loud voice, “Where is my daughter’s dressing room?” 

That place had only one ladies’ dressing room—for the talent (with her entourage) and the agency lady executive (me). I led her to the room and said, “I am sharing it with her.” 

She looked at me from head to foot and said with derision, “Why, can you also sing and dance?” 

Our office had a dictum: talents and clients are always right. 

I smiled, said nothing, but my thought balloon screamed, No, but I can crochet! 

Aloud I said, “Oh, okay, your daughter can have full use of the dressing room.” I had full responsibility of the final production output, but any chair would do as my working/resting space. 

Although this scene happened a long time ago, it replayed clearly in my mind when I heard the word “crochet.” Back then, I fumed inside. But this time around, I laughed out loud. Everyone asked what was so funny and I told them the story.  They laughed with me, then we all turned serious when we started crocheting, following design instructions from a video.  

Fame and fortune can swell one’s pride. But the good Book reminds us, “Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.” (Proverbs 21:24 NLT) 

In part, 1 Peter 5:5 says, “. . . God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

On to some dancing (yes, now I can dance!), but sing? That'll have to wait.