The Sweater

By: Wayne Smith
Aug. 6th/09

In this picture my father in his early 30’s stands looking young and strong, in his new Indian Sweater mom had knit for him. The sweaters evolved over the years, to include lettering carefully knitted onto the back. People would follow my dad trying to read the short church sermon mom had stitched on his back.
“For god so loved the world” was read on his back in many places around Vancouver in the early 1950’s

The sweaters were lovingly worn on dad’s construction sites, into countless coffee shops and down the highway in his old grey Panel Truck, until time and use caused them to stretch and wear out. Not to be wasted in the end, Gypsy our dog would have them to retire on them in his doghouse.

Today, mother can’t knit anymore, everything wears out with time. She can look back at pictures and remember, and for me the picture is of a strong time, when sweaters like hopes for a bright future, were worn with pride.

In the picture behind where my father is standing in his new sweater is a new home he had built on speculation, meaning it would sell for a profit, hopefully. I am reminded looking at the new home how his construction business collapsed during a bad-housing market in the late 50’s. In time a new construction business was started and with my mother’s help, money flowed again, and through it all mom’s new thick warm Indian Sweaters were knit and worn to keep out the cold chill of winter.