Treasured Gifts

As a deca-Burner, as in I’ve been burning for 10 straight years, I’ve accumulated a lot of schwag. Most of it is forgettable. Some of it, I’ve lost in various moves. One artist gifted me a beautiful ceramic aorta which I so treasured, but have now lost. Every time I sort through my desert gear, I pray that maybe I’ll come across it.

I also have an assortment of unique, hand-made necklaces. Jewelry is huge on the playa! My very favorite piece is a mood necklace with a Burning Man medallion that changes color often. Sometimes it’s green, orange, yellow or dark blue. It’s quite striking and something I’ve brought with me and worn to the playa ever since I received it many years ago.

For Marty’s 80^th birthday, I went through my schwag, knowing that I wanted to give him a piece of jewelry. I kept going back and forth, but knew in my heart I had to give him my favorite one. He would love it even more than I do.

Well, ever since I bestowed it on him during his birthday, he’s loved it. He was wearing it proudly at the ARTery meeting last night. “I haven’t taken it off since you gave it to me!”