I Am So Honored

[Riverkilt]

So my birthday was back on the 12th. My red-haired, kilt-loving girlfriend managed to arrange a belated birthday dinner for me down in Phoenix last weekend and invited a LOT of friends.

We had a blast, good friends and good fun. Was a lot of interest in my kilt (Macdonald semi-trad from USA Kilts) and I passed out some cards to strangers asking about it. I got a lot of gag gifts and a couple practical ones including the sgian dubh mentioned on another thread.

But, the highlight of the evening was when my lady presented me with a painting of kilted me she commissioned from a Hopi artist, Stacy Talahytewa, Jr.

Working from her idea and photos Stacy produced this painting, called "Road to Recovery."



What she included was how she sees me standing kilted all the time...the Ol' Coyote (my name for my God who's ALWAYS messing with my mind to deliver spiritual guidance) and the badger. I once met a badger nose to nose in Wyoming and have taken guidance from them ever since. She pointed out that the Hopi Badger Clan is for healers. All Hopi healers are members of the badger clan.

She had Stacy include my chest tattoo of the Scottish heart surrounded by Traditional Navajo spirituality and the 12 steps of recovery.

The folks in the foreground, in my shadow, are supposed to be representative of the people I help in my work....I'm having trouble accepting that...'cause I'm just another olde drunk who found the road to sobriety and got his life back. Mostly I help people by saying, "Hey, over here..."

Anyway, the concept of having a birthday party for "me." was wild enough...I hope I have that many folks at my funeral....but a painting...kilted...what joy!

Ron

[Tattoo Bradley]

From one artist to another, that is one heck of a painting. She's very talented. THe symbols really painted it. Thanks for sharing.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks,

Should have qualified that Stacy is a Hopi guy....

Ron

[Macman]

Ron, what a beautiful painting. Obviously a lot of work went into the planning and painting of such a meaningful gift. Accept that you mean a lot to your friends and the people you help in your work (not to mention us here at XMarks). You are honoured because you are so honourable. As far as "olde drunk", you aren't a drunk anymore, and you seem to have managed to find the fountain of youth. My congratulations to you!

[Tartan Hiker]

Excellent! I'm honored to call you a clansman, Riverkilt!

Bill

[O'Neille]

Very nice, Now you've got me wondering what a badger has to do with healing. I've run into a few that were not very pleasant creatures. Well I'm off to do some research. Beautiful painting. O'Neille

[efer]

Happy Belated B-day, Ron!

Wow, what a great painting! very, very Any thought about making it your XMarks avatar?!?

I agree with everything MacMan said in an earlier post! You are quite honorable.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

[pdcorlis]

I think Bill W and Dr. Bob are smiling somewhere right about now.

[GMan]

You deserve it Ron!

[switchblade5984]

thats SWEET

colors are great love the symbolism!