It was few
years ago, while at the desert oasis Hindi holly town
Pushkar, Rajastan, India, that Yo'av, the Citar player,
notified me that "actually everybody knows" that I am dead.
"Been like that for years." People eagerly spread sad news.
It makes them feel wonderful. In my case however
disappointing that the update may be, " The rumors of my
demise were highly exaggerate:.." Mark Twain.
Jane had the same
information in Los Angeles, CA, when I affectedly ended the
twelve years of deadness, by showing up at her place in
Hollywood. The house number was unforgettable: 414 and a
quarter Spauld Avenue. She gave me a summery of the time I
lost in one sentence that lasted well over an hour, during
which, without missing a beat she also summoned Karen by
phone. Later that evening Ron decided, after listening to
my reasoning for not contacting anyone and consulting a
dictionary, that Vagabond is most suitable way to describe
who I am. He was Karen's boyfriend and a movie director at
that. I was flattered, expecting being called a bum. After
almost three years in the USA, I was about to fly back to
to India, Indonesia and Thailand.
I fell in love with Pushkar, on my first trip to India. It
was the local exceptionally friendly, Shanty life style,
the colors the parades the free roaming monkeys, camels,
cows and donkeys, the daily morning salute to the sun and
evening sunset rituals by the lake with Bangalassy at the
Teahouse and a chance to enjoy the company of other
travelers - while been mesmerized by ever changing circus,
for months at a time. Playing guitar quietly, singing
whispery in my room, I joined the echo of drums and singing
from passing processions, wishing harmony in solitude.
Fast forward
ten years : I designed the silver jewelry collection by
drawing it ( MS picture it) in my home office in the North
Carolina, USA and published it on the web immediately using
FrontPage. It included specifications of quantities,
gemstones choice, dimensions packing and labeling
instructions. My rumbling about the importance of quality
workmanship were inevitable. Brutal streets reality demands
be the cheapest or your children won't be eating tonight. I
was lucky to afford investing few more Rupees in labor
cost. This will make all the difference in the world for
hundreds of master silversmith who will be allowed the time
to perform their best and developed their skills.
Next a 15 kilo silver bullion was acquired by Pawan in
Jaipur, Rajastan, and the gemstones arrived promptly from
suppliers located at the joining allies of Evergreen
market. It is the largest hand stone cutting and hand
crafted jewelry creation and trading post on Earth. From
Diamonds to Agate Carat to kilo, Platinum to bronze
everything sells by weight.
Peace of mind comes your way one day. Shame it wasn't time
to share devotion. Ini, mini, miny mo.
By evening time our Master Silversmith friends where
invited to discuss the new styles with Pawan at the shop in
the heart of Evergreen. I imagine them watching the
pictures on the computer with some skepticism. Most
probably needed few Chai (Hindi for tea to digest the new
styles. Chai mp3 0,02. Perhaps they were tilting their head
from side to side in a movement the means: "This crazy man.
I don't know what inside his mind going?"
When they left the madness of Jaipur on the journey back to
their villages in the Rajastan desert, they carried the
silver bullion and dozens little folded white envelopes
with the gemstones, in the most inconspicuous plastic
disposable bags. Couple of weeks later, the ready earrings
and pendants went back to Pawan for inspection and
packaging.
Then the Indian customs papers were filled. Next the
packages were taken to the Main post office and sent by
Speed Mail ( the equivalent of the US post Global Express.)
Five days later the US postal service delivered it to my
door in North Carolina.
Coming back to the same villages & markets to upgrade
quality, strengthen trust and improve communication was an
uplifting experience I relieved on six continent. Even
better. I returned to visit my best friends and their
families. In some countries, I was sticking around for
months, couple of years, coming back for years, or passing
through just because I had to check it out. I was lucky to
have worked with aspiring artists and artisans. Got to meet
and hang out with hundreds venders at their places of
business - while seeing the world and establishing
fulfilling relationships.
