Every once in awhile, I set aside a day to make thank you stuff.
There are so many people along the way who go out of THEIR way to help me. Or they simply do something so generous, it takes my breath away.
Or I just get an overwhelming sense that this person NEEDS to get a little something from me--TODAY!!
A few days ago I sent something to my friends Alisha and Steve. Yesterday I made some cool "rock" chunk necklaces for Linda M. and her daughter Sarah--a big chunk of pale green fluorite for Linda, a delicate chip of aventurine for her young daughter, both pendants strung on leather cord. Today I worked up what I HOPE is a beautiful collage necklace incorporating a scrap of "desert junk" that Molly sent me. I wrapped it with sterling silver and brass wire, and hung little pendants of pearls from it. My teen daughter and her friends have unanimously declared it "cool!" and I hope Molly thinks so, too.
Tomorrow will be a little something for Charles. A set of vintage paper dolls I found in a local antique store for Terry. Mark L. said he only wants an omelette the next time we do a show together, but I'm sure his wife will enjoy a necklace instead.
All are people who have touched my life recently. Some sent excellent advice and contacts for me to pursue. One sent a box of fossils and pieces of found metal from the desert. Some have done work for me in the past, like Ed, my desktop publishing guy. Sure, he gets paid for his work. But last time he bust his butt to get something properly formatted for me on a deadline, I realized he was ALWAYS going the extra mile for me. He got a horse netsuke. And Dave, who's been making the stands for my sculptures. He always gets them done sooner than I ask, and they are always beautifully done. After three years of this, I think it's time he got a little sculpture, don't you?
Some are simply long overdue for a thank you treat.
I'm always a little wistful when I send these packages out. It seems, over the years, that sometimes, when I say "thank you" in this way, people move away from my life soon after. I'm always reminded of the story of "The Elves and The Shoemaker." Once the shoemaker showed his gratitude, the delighted elves disappeared forever.
I don't know if I instinctively sense they're leaving, and have to hurry to say goodbye on a high note. Or if it's just coincidence. Whatever. I always hesitate to put my heart into something like this.
But I have to do it. Not only because it's the right thing to do--saying thank you in such a tangible way--but because I WANT to.
I always wish I could be there when they open their packages.
It feels like Christmas, only better.
