Many of you will remember my previous mentions here of a young man named Matthew. A quick refresher: my late sister, June, was a member of an online knitting forum and became fond of many of the others in the group, one of those being a sweet lady named Mary. Matthew is Mary’s son. He is an amazing artist and a few years ago, asked permission to sketch from my photos that June shared through my blog and my Facebook page. Oh, and Matthew is autistic.
Mary and I became Facebook friends through June, and Mary learned that Motor Man and I usually attend a yearly racing industry trade show in Indianapolis. She asked that I let her know the next time we planned to be in that area, and she would drive there so we could meet.
That happened last Thursday on a cold, windy, snowy morning. We met at Connor Prairie, a settlement museum just outside of Indy. My first thought was of June and how pleased she would be that we actually met in person. In fact, silly me was a little teary-eyed.
Matthew brought a couple of his framed sketches to show me, because snapshots just don’t do them justice. This is a sketch based on one of my wild horse photos.
Mary had previously given me a few pointers on interacting with Matthew, since I don’t know anyone affected by autism. She asked me to convey to you that Matthew’s lack of a smile doesn’t mean that he isn’t happy.
We exchanged gifts. I took Matthew a painted rock (a horse), some treasures that I found while beach combing and some cotton from a field, since I knew that wasn’t a crop grown in his home state of Michigan. (Not a flattering pic of me, but I love the candidness of us talking about the cotton.)
Matthew gave me my choice of a beautiful ceramic shark or a pottery bowl, both of which he had made. I liked them both, and chose the bowl. Mary brought me several things. One is a sweet handpainted (by a friend of hers) magnet with a scene of the sunrise by the ocean. It was in that beautiful origami box that Mary made. There was also a cute little mouse ornament, an assortment of dish towels and a hand knitted (by Mary) hanger to attach them to a cabinet or oven door. The light blue square object under the towel is a hand-knitted “scrubby” for dishes. I didn’t realize that there’s now a special yarn to make scrubbies.
The three of us enjoyed walking through the museum, although the outdoor activities were closed for the season.
And we had a little fun in the gift shop. No, I didn’t buy the hat, but those warm cranberry-colored mittens were impossible to resist, and I added that Connor Prairie mug to my collection.
We posed for pictures in the beautifully decorated lobby before enjoying lunch at a nearby restaurant. Then Mary graciously offered to drive me back to the hotel in downtown Indy, saving me cab fare.
Oh, and by the way, Mary drove over three hours each way from their home just to make this meeting happen. I am so humbled that she and Matthew went to that extreme. And I know June was smiling the entire time.
And, just a little coincidence: tomorrow would be June’s birthday.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
Loved your post! How wonderful to meet your sister’s friends who are now your friends. And so talented. I found myself teary-eyed too. Merry Christmas to all!
What a sweet story! I am so glad you were able to meet up and I know that it was a day that you all will remember forever. That’s what friends do. We make the effort, right? I teared up a bit as well. I love how intently you and Matthew appear when looking at the cotton and what a great idea to bring that to share with him. Thanks for sharing such a special time with us.
What a treat for all of you!
What a dear story and Matthew is QUITE the artist. That sketch of his looks really wonderful. Nice that they came so far to meet you and no doubt that was a special memory for all of you to make.
Pam
This post is so lovely, three warmhearted persons! Sometimes Internet makes miracles, and this is one of them. Thank you for telling of this meeting with Mary and Matthew.
Kristiina
I’m so delighted that you have put Mary and Matthew in this Wednesday’s blog. I’m one of June’s fellow knitting tea party mates, and it was June who introduced us all to your blogs through posting lots of your wonderful photos. We do miss her despite only knowing her through the internet. Mary has also put a few photos of your meeting on KP as I’m sure you know. It’s wonderful that you could all meet up. Bless you all.
How wonderful that you got to meet Mary and Matthew! Thanks for sharing this event.
What a sweet time, and wonderful new friends!
So glad the three of you were able to make this happen !
A nice, early Christmas celebration: good times and gifts exchanged !
Dianna, this is certainly one of my most favorite of your blogs. It was so heart warming. I know June is surely smiling down. Loved the gifts ❤
What a precious gift exchange. So full of warmth in the chilly season! Love the little mouse.
Thank you for taking the time to meet with Matthew and me. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed your precious gifts as well. It would be fun to get out to Virginia sometime to see the horses and the area.
What a wonderful gathering and sharing time the three of you had. Matthew – you are an amazing artist. Thank you for allow Motor Mommy to share your work with us.
That is the sweetest story, Dianna. Your sister June would be so tickled that you got to meet them. A lovely Christmas memory made for all of you.
Matthew and him mom are definitely wonderful people, I always love seeing them when we go to KAP. Matthew’s artistic abilities just keep growing.
It’s wonderful that you were able to meet up with them and they you.
I live in Scotland, but through the wonders of the internet I too knew your sister June on the knitting forum – and we all still miss her. Lovely pictures of your meeting with Mary and Matthew.
I live in the North GA mountains, June was a dear friend through the KTP, I miss her every day. Matthew is a wonderful young man, one of my best buddies and Mary, well I could write pages forever on her sweet smile and her loving heart. I was blessed with two of Matthew’s drawings, was a surprise gift at this years get together and one of his dolphin tail knitting bowls is a treasure! I also follow you on Facebook😊
I’m from Ontario, another of June’s KTP friends and as many have already mentioned, she is missed.. June posted some of your lovely photos. What a thrill it must have been to meet up with Mary and Matthew.
Thank you for posting the photos of your meeting. Best wishes to you for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year..
What a great trip! And Matthew is quite the artist! It is so much fun to meet friends we know but have never met face to face!
Love Barb
(finally catching up)
How wonderful that you got to meet Mary and Matthew. Thanks for posting about your meeting. I too am part of the knitting forum and remember June fondly. She is still missed by the Knitting Tea party family. Sending you greetings from Australia and best wishes for a happy Christmas and a merry new year. Oh dear, maybe that should be the other way round,but either way, I hope you enjoy it all!
Mary and Matthew are friends through the knitting forum and I have gotten to meet them in person too. So glad you got to meet both of them. They truly are loving and giving people. I was so glad to have met June through the knitting forum and share our knitting experiences and also your photos of the horses that she shared with us. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!