THE DEPTH OF HUMANITY IN THREE SMALL WORDS

THE DEPTH OF HUMANITY IN THREE SMALL WORDS

Often times we find ourselves in the far west, dusty, dirty, hard bitten towns where oil extraction seems far more important than education.

We find ourselves amongst and befriended by every manner and persuasion of society.

Since we are craftspersons traveling on the road we count them all as our friends…. with some reservation.

My own life has been marked by recognizing and understanding the importance of friendships. The friends that I travel with are a diverse group of artists, artisans, craftspersons and even the neer-do-wells, we struggle together to make a living. Some artists do it well, some follow this life style out of dire necessity, as a last resort.

The public seldom recognizes the desperation that can exist. I am a of privileged few and recognize my fortune. I am nearing the later part of my career and don’t wonder where my next meal will come from or whether I will have gas money to get to the next festival.

Perhaps the public should be made aware that there is a great diverse group of artists and artisans that travel together, live together, strive together.

Quietly, many are painfully aware of the disparity in peoples lives. We are comfortable together no matter the circumstances, we bond as a community.

We are the nomadic retailers in your life, we are the modern day gypsies.

We come to your town to help create your festival of the arts, in many ways….we are your entertainment.

In my associations we are Arapahoe, Blackfoot, Apache, Pueblo, Ho-chunk, Navajo, Lakota, Northern Crow, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Russian, Gay, straight, Lesbian, Christian, Rightwing Christian Evangelical, Buddhist, Muslim, Mexican, Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, Atheist, and even born again atheist and if you are keeping track even a gay wicken.

The point being; we travel together and we depend on each other for survival.

Most of us haven’t the time to decide who we should or shouldn’t appreciate.

Most all of us have given it some thought and have decided that since we are of the artist/artisan/craftsperson class we are already classified as a bit of quirky/outsiders in society.

We provide entertainment to the masses of humanity that stream past our booth space.

Today I’m traveling with mi amigo/a new found Hispanic from Colorado , perhaps first generation.

We are surrounded by a lot of people that can be quite prejudiced and discriminating when it comes to color and class.

Yet, he seems quite comfortable in this situation because he has grown up with this code of conduct.

A Viet Nam Vet comes and visits with us, it is duly noted by the emblem on his cap and as my Hispanic friend seems to be left out of the conversation , he unexpectedly extends his hand to the veteran.

He says the traditional, time tested…”thank you for your service”. (In hopes of earning the white veterans favor)

In the midst of a region that seems to have little concern for Hispanic’s, immigrants or Native culture the Viet Nam Veteran from the Upland South looks him in the eye and replies “You’re worth it!”

Three Words.