Bedspread gives 86-year-old life
"I decided to knit it because I was very upset at having to leave my big house and garden to go and live in a small flat because of my age."
An 86-year-old Pretoria East woman spent more than 10 months knitting a king-sized bedspread for her daughter who lives in the Cape.
“I decided to knit it because I was very upset at having to leave my big house and garden to go and live in a small flat because of my age,” said Leah Vlok.
Vlok, however, did not allow the setback to discourage her.
She came up with a strategy that would make her accept the situation and enjoy life. Vlok said she was uncertain how long it would take to knit the spread, but didn’t think that it would take “that long”.
Despite this and sometimes feeling weak, did not deter her passion in realising her goal.
“Every time I got dispirited, I went to the mirror and talked to myself. I said, “Listen, girl, you started this you must finish it.”
“Vlok realised the benefit of the task in just the first three months.”
“In a period of three months, I felt much better.”
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The life-changing experience taught Vlok to be more in control of her life, even in an unfavourable environment. The whole experience encouraged her to share her experience with today’s youth.
She said youths should learn to focus on a positive side when they came across difficulties in life as that would enable them to accomplish their goals to be successful and happy. She also said she had told her daughter and son-in-law that when they got old, they should move out of their big house to live in a tiny flat, ‘they can leave all their furniture in the house but they must take the bed’.
“That is because I know that if they take the bed, they would take the bedspread too.”
Vlok’s friend Sue, who wanted to keep her surname anonymous, said Vlok displayed a powerful strength of will.
“She is a good example of what you can do when you are determined,” said Sue.
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