At Shibaricon tonight during opening ceremonies, I was honoured alongside another fine rope lover named Firefly, by a presentation of a suspension ring and a handmade length of rope by three men I admire tremendously. The idea and the ring came from my Brett because I had told him about something Lee Harrington had said during one of his classes a few years back that really touched me and he relayed that story to my friend Lochai. This is what Lochai had to say prior to presenting the rings to us…
“During the course of one´s life certain milestones are reached & achievements are achieved. In different walks of life there are different ways to mark these occasions. After years of schooling, diplomas, master´s degrees, PHDs that are hung on the walls to say, look, I have made it here. These pieces of paper costs a lot of time, skill & money to achieve. At the end of a race, trophies are presented to show what has been done in the past to be recognized by people in the future. Painful training, diets & daily sacrifice. At the end of a long uphill climb a flag is placed to show, I have made it to the top. Skill, diligence, perseverance.
In the Leather community when a Dominant has gained the respect of their peers, they are granted a cap to show, I am now part of the elite, I am now a capped Master. Years of training, mentorship & gaining the respect of others. This is one of the highest compliments a community can pay one of their own. In our community, the “Weaver Family”, the riggers. Those who like to tie & be tied, things are a bit different from the rest of society. We don´t subscribe to the same hierarchy system that other communities do. Yes, we do have those we respect, we look up to, we walk besides and those we consider our peers. Regardless of being the one who ties or loves the feel of the ropes themselves we look upon one another as equals without levels of accomplishments worn on our sleeves, or certificates on our walls or caps on our heads. We all have our own styles, philosophies, skills & ideals. We all have our own leaders we look up to based on our own personal experience and don´t have one central depository to defer to for guidance. Yes there are some among us who have more lines drawn to them than others but this is because they are humble and have touched so many with their desire to share their knowledge without expecting a return. We don´t need the material proof of this or the titles to know where we belong.
We are all on the same journey… which brings me to the reason I am up here tonight. I am humbled by the request to be here to make two special presentations. Based on the kudos that other communities bestow upon their own, we too have symbols that represent not our accomplishment per se, but our journey. These symbols are not the result of reaching “The End” but instead are symbols as well as tools of the trade to say, I too am on the journey with you. Tonight we are here to present our symbols of this journey, a ring & a hand made length of rope. To be used not to show “Look at what I have achieved but only to say, look what I have been given to use on my journey.” I am humbled because I have been asked to be one of the travelers that are looked up to by others on this journey of rope of ours. I would now like to ask another who has been asked to make these presentations to join me: Jimi Tatu.
(Jimi offered a few words about how we first met and our friendship and then Lochai continued.)
Wow… has it only been 5 years? I met this beautiful, talented woman at this very event in the restaurant area of the hotel long with many others who are now present. What struck me was her humble attitude as well as a kick ass book of hojojitsu ties that we all stood around trying to decipher. Suze has been a guiding light to me and I have deferred to her many times when asked about ties & the journey. She has supported me on my own journey & I am proud to say that I am her friend. A talented rigger with a sense of the beauty to be found in our art that many do not see nor are able touch upon. I am again humbled to be here to present these material things to a woman who needs not prove anything to anyone……”
By this point I was naturally in tears and could not manage to say anything at all. I went up, did my best not to trip on anything because my face was streaked with happy and embarrassed tears so I couldn’t see very well. I hugged them both very tightly, took my new ring and a length of rope that Lochai made with his own hands and then I sat down again and kissed my Brett. Words still fail me. I cannot begin to say how honored I feel or how much I will always treasure that memory and those gifts. I am still humbled, amazed and awestruck that these men whose work I have admired for so very long would honour me that way and look at me as one of their peers. Thank you guys.. I love you all. <smile>