newbuzz..."That is quite a fashion statement," exclaimed my boss. She was referring to the multicolored, granny square afghan that was draped around my shoulders and clipped together with a large paper clip. This is my favorite way to keep warm at work, whether I am cold from the winter wind, or the summer air conditioning. I keep my lap sized afghan slung over the back of my chair. I brought it with me from my last job of 14 years, and it is my favorite work accessory. I love it for the snugly, home-style warmth it brings when I am at work and away from the comforts of home. Just looking at the colors and the texture of the yarn sparks memories of grandmothers, old friends, and smiles. My own grandmother was a crafter. In addition to sewing, she made knitted and crocheted items. In her last years, she spent many hours making personalized afghans for each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When she died, she left a large bag of her extra yarn. Though they were just scraps, and not enough of each color to make a large item, I thought I could make slippers or mittens with the yarn, and I could not part with it. At that time, I had two young daughters and I was new in my position at a local company. I did not have the time or energy for knitting. A co-worker suggested I donate the yarn to the nursing home where his grandmother lived. He said the ladies there enjoyed making lap quilts for other residents and would gladly use the yarn for their projects. He explained that while the finished products were useful to the residents, the making of them was far more valuable to those who were able to crochet as it gave them a purpose and a mission. I gladly donated the yarn, and he delivered it to his grandmother's nursing home. Several months later, he presented me with the afghan I have today. Made with love for me, from my grandmother's own yarn, by another grandmother in her end days, I will always cherish this gift. It is a reminder of the connectedness of all human beings. I keep it at work to remember that while we work for our living, we live for our families and friends, and both can be found in the workplace as well as in our hearts and homes.