Area 51 Knitting

Today is Bill's birthday. No one should take more blame for my creativity than Bill. Sure, genetics played a role (the Queen Mom is very creative). Still, Bill was the first significant adult in my life who took having fun so seriously. He had been hang-gliding and hot-air-ballooning. He had had an Afghan, perhaps the world's most impractical dog. I fell immediately in love with him. Luckily, so did my mom, and he became my stepdad. Having him in my life has been a tremendous gift.

Bill had his own sign-making business, grown from his talent and creativity. With my mom's covering the practical side, the business thrived. Bill's signs can be found all over San Diego.

Bill understands that it is often worth doing something just for the fun of it. There doesn't need to be A Reason. For example, Bill loves the idea of aliens and the whole Area 51 scene. The family cars have Bill's professional, authentic-looking "Official Area 51 Chase Vehicle" stickers on the windshield. So, for his birthday, I wanted to knit him a little Alien Bébé.

My inspiration was the little green man kind of alien. I wanted feet with two long toes in front, and one in back, tiny little arms, and a disproportionally large head. Something Marvin the Martian-esque.

Okay. So much for my plans. My "alien" failed completely as an alien. In fact, the results were so far from what I wanted, I almost frogged the pieces. Instead, I decided to try felting the parts, then reassembled it with the arms and legs switched. Add eyelashes and a little chenille skirt and voila! Goodbye alien, hello Frog Princess!



So, I have no alien to give Bill for his birthday. I'm going to keep the Frog Princess, and try again for the little green man. If anyone understands the risks of the creative process, it's Bill, so I know he'll forgive me.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Bill!