so, my parents still live in the house i grew up in. we moved there
just after i was born, and it was 2 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen
and an outhouse. that house has grown (added rooms to the main floor,
basement built, pool added, etc) a lot over the years and will always be
my home.
in the yard there is a tree. a huge, old, gnarled oak tree. it is
over 100 years old, and probably 100 feet tall. as a kid it was where
our swings were hung, and i have always loved the tree very much. i
think it was probably the first tree i hugged.
over the last few years, the tree has started to deteriorate. it's
still standing, but it is dying, and my parents have had to have
branches removed to ensure that is is safe. after the first cutting, my
parents and sister came to visit, and we all went camping, and my mom
brought a piece of the tree for each of us. everyone else put theirs in
the fire, but i had bigger dreams for mine.
later that year, after my parents left, i made a ring out of some of
the wood my mom left. i really didn't expect it to last long, but damn,
that wood is strong. it is still around my finger today.
this year, i was thinking of things to make my family, and i decided
that everyone should have part of the tree. my sister really loved the
ring i made, and was fairly certain that it would take me to narnia, so i
made her one, too.
the piece of wood mom brought had a lovely knot in it. it made me
think of her when i looked at it. she really holds my family together,
and the knot seemed fitting. i had matt cut the knot off, and polished
it and made her a necklace.
thinking of something for my dad was a little harder. he doesn't wear
jewelery... eventually i hit on a great idea. i remember him getting me
to make him these little square leather lanyard keychains as a kid, he
has tons of keys for work, and they hang on the dashboard of his work
truck where he sees them every day. i got matt to help me make some
beads from the wood, and i threaded them on a keychain for him!
i am really happy with what i ended up with. i much prefer hand made,
personalized gifts, and i think these turned out just right.
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