It has been a while since I have properly sat down behind a keyboard and penned a diary. I may have done it once or twice in the past year when I found the time or the mood struck me. I don't have a proper computer so most of the time I am posting from a mobile device which anyone can tell you isn't exactly the best for site interface. Well I guess I am due, and I have a laptop I am using unfettered for thew moment and I have something to say, so here goes.
Christmas has always, well since maturing and I use the term loosely, brought a dichotomy of feelings to me. On one hand I love family, giving both in terms of gifts as well as time and selfless work and the uptick in love people tend to express to strangers. On the other hand I am put off by the blatant over the top consumerism and selfish "I want this and this and this" that comes into play as well. I also am burdened with the thoughts of those who struggle in our society more than normal. People pinning for some carbon copy keeping up with the Jones gift whether it be a new electronic device or fashion or toy or adornment. Many people get caught up in the "Mom everyone else has one" attitude and want one for themselves just like it.
This Christmas is no different. I find myself somewhat gainfully employed, and it has been nearly a year since I have had to visit a vampire, I did have to tell my dishwasher at work he was being cut back to one day a week. I am aggressively lobbying for him to get the janitorial duties since we will be letting that service go but it's not a done deal. So when I see people lavishly buying shit they don't need as a status symbol of sorts, from places and companies that care little for people and only care about the season for it's effect on their bottom line, well I am a bit put off by it.
Usually I ask for one of two things at Christmas time from my family, either things I have a true need of or one of my selfish wants, Steeler gear. I am a dyed in the wool rabid Steeler fan, with a family chock full of rabid Steeler fans. So much so that some of us choose not to watch Steeler games in public most times, my mother and sister included as well as a few cousins and Aunts and Uncles. I don't have many needs this year so a new jersey was on the docket for Christmas this year until a bit ago I had a bit of a personal moral epiphany and decide the NFL was not to receive any money from me whether directly or indirectly for any of their gear.
Earlier this year while I was in the desert circumstances put me in contact with a long time member of this community that through script bugs has been limited in participation here of late. I am grateful for it as it is one of the voices no longer present here in this community I didn't realize I missed. It also lead to my decision to stop buying or asking for NFL gear.
I lived in a town in the Shenandoah Valley for the better part of 6 years up until I turned 13 and there was only one team most people around there supported, Washington. While I understood team fandom something about Washington's team and mascot put me off though it would be years before I understood what and why. As I became more aware I realized why, the blatant racism of Washington's mascot so coupled with the fact Dan Snyder is a jerk I have always pretty much rooted against Washington. This year I have really been impressed by the strides the EONM has been making this year with the penetration of their message into various areas of media social or traditional. I see it pop up in my Facebook feed from friends I wouldn't normally consider politically active and it has been discussed with extended family at the dinner table. The message is getting out, and teams like Washington will be forced to change their racist name and mascot and Washington fans know it and some are kinda bitter about it. They can get the hell over it as far as I am concerned but it was interesting having a knock down facebook flame fest with a friend on Thanksgiving, of all days, about it. He's not the worst guy, and is fairly liberal for someone who lives in South Carolina, but he tried comparing Washington's team name with the Steelers. "The Steelers should change their name because they contribute to global warming," he said proving that he just didn't get it. Well after the public back and forth and some messages where he apologized, saying he was having a bad day, he finally kinda admitted to me I was kinda right.
Deep down most people know what's right and wrong but many ignore that voice in their head for numerous reasons. When I decide to change my normal behaviors due to my morals and what I feel is right and wrong there is no ambiguity, it is like flipping a switch or cutting off a faucet. What motivates me is very different from what I think are others motivations. When I saw this statement by Wings some months back well it kinda touched me and I decided to cut a certain faucet off. Here is a self employed Artist and Artisan who took a financial hit to his well being over what is right. It motivated me to make a change in my life, a personal decision I made to let my family know I didn't want any NFL gear this year for Christmas. I would no longer see my money or money spent in my name flow to an organization that allowed one of it's member teams to have such a blatantly racists name and mascot. The switch has been flipped and until the NFL no longer allows Washington to retain it's name and mascot (and that other team too) it isn't gonna be turned back on, end of story.
My decision left me with the conundrum of what to ask for for Christmas. Last year I needed a new phone, so that's what I asked for and got. They were also running a special on crappy little tablets so I got one of those as well kinda like a two for one. I had a nice tablet with a keyboard but as a tablet it was unwieldy and I had just found my self unemployed and could use the money I got for selling it. I could have asked for a laptop but I rarely would use it with 80 percent of my online surfing needs being covered by my phone or tablet it seemed a waste to me, and I seldom slow down long enough to sit at a keyboard anyway. I could have asked for clothes, but I have enough, don't really care about being flashy and know where there are some pretty good thrift stores where I can get good stuff. I am not into having many possessions, in fact I try not to have more that can fit into a single truck minus a bed and other furniture in case I get an inclination to move somewhere. So what was all I wanted for Christmas, well here it is, it came early:
That there is a one of a kind ring I ordered from Wing's site, he had to make it special to fit my finger. I don't really adorn myself, it's not my thing, but reading Aji's description of the Serpent ring harmonized with me. It fit. I was born in the year of the Snake, and have a one of a kind custom tattoo of a Snake on my ankle. So not only does the Serpent ring match my tattoo, kinda, Aji's description of it and the Serpent kinda fits too particularly this:
In traditional cultures, Serpent plays many roles: sometimes a bringer of prosperity; sometimes a trickster; sometimes a source of fierce strength and awesome power; but always, a reminder of the need for balance in all things.
I certainly bring some prosperity, mainly my employers. Trickster, you can defiantly say that, many do. Strength and Power, I have plenty to spare and share with those around me and it is why some love me with death. So my ring came last week in the mail and I can't be happier with it. The details and craftsmanship are superb and it is truly unique. I have already gotten question of "where did you get that?" Not in one of those chain jewelry stores in the mall that's for sure. I couldn't tell you what I got for Christmas 2 years ago, my phone and tablet will probably have to be replaced by next Christmas. But this year I got something I will take with me to the grave, like my tattoos, and I couldn't be happier.
So if anyone out there is looking for a last minute Christmas gift, a one of a kind you won't forget it hand crafted kind of gift go check out Wing's Silverwork. You can also poke around the site and find his Photography to especially from his one man show. You can also find art from other artist there as well and if you want more background on featured items visit The NDN Silver Blog.
You can contact Aji and Wings here, and Wings does take commissions, special orders, but it is too late to have them done by Christmas. So if anyone needs that last minute, unique one of a kind gift trust me, you won't be sorry.