As a kid I made gifts for
\nspecial occasions
\nbirthdays, Christmas \u2013
\nparents, grandparents,
\naunt, uncle
\nhangers-on
\nall got something made
\nby my own two hands.<\/p>\n
for a few years it was
\nsomething acrylic
\nclear, encasing some
\nobject or picture deemed
\nworth of enshrinement
\nby me
\npoured into molds in our
\nbasement workshop<\/p>\n
One year, it was candles \u2013
\nall the rage in the \u201870s
\nI specialized in funky owls<\/p>\n
There was also my
\nbottle cutting phase \u2013 less
\nsuccessful, as goblets
\nmade from full size
\nwine bottles proved
\nunwieldy to drink from <\/p>\n
My main claim to
\ngift making and giving fame
\nwas courtesy of my handy
\ndandy rock tumbler
\ntie tacs, tie bars, broaches,
\near rings
\nI made them all from
\nbrightly polished
\ngranite and marble \u2013
\nsometimes even a nice, white
\nquartz<\/p>\n
jewelry not for the
\nfaint of heart
\nor small stature
\neven small chunks of
\ngranite
\nmade for
\nadventuresome earlobe
\ngymnastics<\/p>\n
An only child, my parents would
\nindulge my varied
\ncreative interest and impulses
\nand my family
\nand friends
\nwere the feigned-gratitude
\nrecipients.<\/p>\n
Never let it be said that
\nmy gifts came from anywhere
\nbut the heart<\/p>\n
And my basement.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mark L. Lucker
\n\u00a9 2020
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