On a bright sunny day in August 2014, an 87-year-old woman sits at a small table in her room at a Jasper nursing home and jots notes on a small piece of paper. She is recalling events from her past — her wedding, her travels, her jobs — that she wants to be sure to include in the life story she is writing.

In front of her are 6-inch quilted patchwork blocks, a tidy pile of printed fabrics, a sewing machine, a cutting mat and various sewing-related notions.

The quilt blocks are for a baby quilt for a great-granddaughter due in December, and she notes that she’s not making the progress on the quilt that she would like because she is devoting time to writing her life story. But she is enjoying the writing process — answering questions, reliving the highlights of her past, reflecting on the down times. She shares that since she began writing regularly in July, her handwriting has even improved.

She suggests that perhaps she should “give up a few bingos” to make time for the quilt.

#writing