Graduation goggles: The relief and nostalgic feeling one has about a time in their life when it is about to end, even if the time was completely miserable.

In my last few posts I’ve been dwelling on the completion of a shawl project. It was a project that started out with warm, happy feelings. These feelings quickly devolved into boredom and hostility. I referred to the shawl as “odious” and “loathed.” I even wrote a humorous poem expressing my disaffection.

In my last post, I asked for suggestions on how to “cleanse” the project of all of the negative energies I had invested into it. Most of you advocated taking a little time to set the project aside. I did so, and I’m happy to report that the bad juju dissipated on its own.

When the negative feelings departed I was left with a fond, nostalgic feeling for the shawl and the times we’d spent together. I remembered picking out the yarn, and how much I liked working with it. I remembered all the time I spent cuddling with my cats during long evenings on the couch, shawl in my lap. I remembered the admiring looks the shawl received from friends and relatives to whom I showed the shawl. And I thought of the pleasure that I hope the recipient will feel when she receives it. I imagined her wearing it on a brisk autumn morning.

It’s graduation goggles, and I’ve got it bad.