Yesterday I was with some new acquaintances when one of ’em asked me what I did for a living. The long answer would’ve been something like “I teach knitting, and I have a book that’s an extension of the teaching, and I used to tech edit knitting patterns but I quit that to have more time for writing, and sometimes I design patterns for sale.” But I went with the short answer instead: “I teach knitting.”
That did it. Those three little words were enough to generate a full range of responses. First, the positive:
“That is so cool!”
Well, yes, it is cool that I get to make a living doing something I enjoy.
Then, the not-so-positive:
“No offense, but I wouldn’t pay you to teach me to knit. I could learn from a book.”
Can’t argue with her there, really. I learned from books. (Still do!)
And finally, the bizarre:
“That is the weirdest job I’ve ever heard of! It’s even better than the one in Clerks, you know, the woman who manually masturbates caged animals.”
Uh… really?
I’m fairly used telling people what I do, and getting odd responses in return. Either they’re stunned by the idea of someone traveling to teach knitting, or by the idea of knitting conferences that attract hundreds or even thousands of knitters. (The only airplane seatmate that ever grokked the concept used to teach at quilt shows.)
But is teaching knitting really weirder than something Keven Smith dreamed up? Naw. I don’t think so.
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