There are many ways to relieve stress after punching the time card. Some individuals enjoy listening to music; others talk about their day with significant others. For Janet Shiraishi, a retired civil service employee, her cup of tea involves hooks.
No, Shiraishi has not occupied her post-retirement time with pirating. She enjoys crocheting. So much so that she has donated hundreds of crochet baby caps to William Beaumont Army Medical Center's Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum Unit over the past 10 years.
Shiraishi, a former education technician with the Department of Nursing at WBAMC, began crocheting and knitting about 20 years ago. The civil-service veteran would use crocheting as a coping mechanism for stress.
"I needed an outlet, but needed something that wouldn't take me away from my home so I started to crochet," said Shiraishi, a native of Port Huron, Michigan. "The job was getting a little stressful at times, but I knew it helped me relax. Coworkers would tease me at work because I would crochet during my lunch hour."
Shiraishi and her husband, Douglas "Yuki" Shiraishi, settled in El Paso in the 90s when Douglas Shiraishi retired from the Army after serving 24 years. Although last stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, the Shiraishis chose to move to El Paso due to the pleasing climate.
"We've been here for 30 years," said Shiraishi. "I wanted a place that was warm with a lot of sun."
Keeping warm has always been important to Shiraishi, as evident in her crocheting. Even her husband understands her passion for the craft, she said.
"He knows it relaxes me and helps babies stay warm," said Shiraishi. "It became something I really enjoyed doing."
Shiraishi began making baby caps and blankets as a hobby about 10 years ago. After producing a large collection, she began donating the yarned accessories.
"I knew I needed to get rid of the hats I was making so I went to Labor and Delivery to ask if they wanted them, and they said 'yes'," said Shiraishi.
According to Shiraishi, she attempts to make 10-25 caps a month. Season and fashion also play a role in the caps she crochets.
"I've made some caps that were camouflaged, even pink camo," said Shiraishi. "Some of the hats I make are a little silly with tassels. I just want to make sure they have a little something to put on their baby's heads."
The caps and accessories she designed became so popular; Shiraishi received a request to crochet caps for infant bereavements.
"I made 10 small hats right away," said Shiraishi. "I wanted to make sure they had some just in case."
"I think it's very selfless, and it's a nice surprise," said Stephanie Fernandez, wife of Spc. Miguel Fernandez, infantryman, 415th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army Reserves. "This is so much more personal, more welcoming."
The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, once wrote, "The only thing that is constant is change." The old adage echoes throughout the military services. Service members and their families are sometimes required to be stationed away from "home", somewhere new and unknown.
"Being an Army wife, I know what it's like being in a new place, new hospital, never being there before and going into labor," said Shiraishi. "I delivered my first baby in Michigan, second was in Maryland and my third was in Hawaii."
Because of her own experiences, Shiraishi said she knows what some new moms go through and hopes the baby accessories puts smiles on faces and shows that someone cares.
"I've been at another hospital where my first daughter was born. You just get that general onesie," said Stephanie Fernandez, who just gave birth to her second daughter, Harper Fernandez, on Jan. 13 at WBAMC. "This hospital feels more like a part of the community than the corporate ones. I'm very impressed."
"As much as the moms and babies are receiving something, I think sometimes I receive more," said Shiraishi.
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