Full. Circle. Baby.

A couple of months ago, I mentioned that I had a couple of things in the works that I would be embarking on after Christmas and beyond. The first thing was to create a Facebook page that would feature all of the scrumptious fare that is created in our kitchen. I post a lot of food photos on my Facebook wall. I've had a lot of encouragement to publish a cookbook, however, that's not something I want to do now. So, the next best thing is a Facebook page. The other thing in the works? I didn't tell. But...

I am now. 

I am going to make dolls again.

That announcement alone may not seem like a big deal.

So...

Let's take a trip back in time.

When I was 20, I started making hanging dolls. I didn't have a lot of materials, but I got creative. A few talented souls adored the dolls. They donated fabric and pins and needles and other supplies that I needed.

A year later, when I was living in Massachusetts, a friend of mine who made fleece outerwear and sold them at various shops, displayed a few of my dolls at her location.

They sold.

She told me to make as many as I could before the big Holiday Craft Show that she was participating in.

My dolls sold out.

During my transition from living in Massachusetts to moving back to New Hampshire, making dolls transitioned to being in hiatus for obvious reasons.

Then.

When Lisa and I lived together in a 3 bedroom home, we converted 1 of the bedrooms into my doll room.

At the time, I was Lisa's manager in training. Our store needed more perks. I ramped up the deli and expanded to offering hot breakfast sandwiches and hot lunch.

Long hours. 

During the evening hours and on the weekends, I worked my ass off in the "doll room."

Within months, I had enough dolls made to participate in craft shows every weekend.

The photo at the beginning of this blog column was one of them. Lisa's Mom, my Mother-in-Law now, assisted me.

After a year or so, I was promoted to manager of a store in Massachusetts. My commute to work one way was well over an hour.

I stopped making dolls.

I was 23 at the time.

Fast forward to 23 years later.

Now.

The Sweet Universe has shifted.

Did a lil' shimmy shake.

That wrecking ball of realization showed itself earlier this year when Lisa got the position at work that she's in now.

Long story short, she's been employed with her company for almost 18 years.

When she first started, she was in Receiving.

She has made her way through other various departments. Took all of the required management courses. Learned from some of the best.

Now, she's the boss of the woman who trained her almost 18 years ago.

She's a sweet lady.

The first thing Lisa said when she got the position she's in now was, "I have made a full circle."

In essence, my dolls fall into that same category.

Full. Circle.

It fits.

It makes sense.

When I grab the hands of the Universe and do that clumsy shimmy shake, it leads me back to where I sort of began.

All of the hanging and sitting dolls that I created were all handcrafted. I designed all of my own patterns.

Greatness.

I'm fairly certain I can do that again.

Full. Circle.

It is certainly not going to happen overnight.

I have not made these dolls in well over 20 years.

But. 

I am determined.

I am sure Lisa never imagined that she would be the boss of the woman who trained her almost 18 years ago.

Full.

Circle.