after teaching and before the days of silver sparrow designs, i had many odd jobs. i was a bartender, a babysitter, a caretaker, a resale shopgirl, a health food store clerk, and a barista. throughout all of those jobs i also worked for an old german woman. i did odd jobs for her, cared for her garden, and helped with her animals. she had a very old horse, goats, sheep, chickens, alpacas, and llamas. she had one llama that was really special. her name was dolly. (dolly llama. dalai lama…) she was so sweet. she was the first llama that i ever knew and i grew to love her. the alpacas were always hissing and spitting at me, but not dolly. ever since then, i’ve had a special place in my heart for llamas.
this here is dolly. she is peaceful and strong. she believes in herself, despite all of her quirks and idiosyncrasies. she trusts in her strengths, even if they often seem like weaknesses. she stands up tall and asserts herself, even when it’s not easy to do so. and she’s not afraid to voice her opinion, even when it’s not a popular one. she’s so proud and somber and demure, with her big ol’ blinking eye.
llamas are a symbol of secure footing, of perseverance while under a heavy burden, of standing up for yourself, expressing preferences and distastes that are not generally approved of. wear this necklace and let her remind you that you have all of these qualities.
because it is one of my very favorite quotes of all time, i put on the back e.e. cummings’
to be nobody but yourself, in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.
