One night I was goofing around on my phone when I got a message notification from my website. I read the message and my heart started pounding. Let me tell you about it.
The message was from a gentleman who explained how the artist Gerry Rafferty had managed to capture the love he and his wife share in the song "Right Down the Line", and they've considered it their song since 1978.
A significant birthday was coming for his wife, and since they already enjoy my pottery, would I consider making a custom mug that includes some of the lyrics from the song. He confessed to being a romantic and offered me artistic freedom to do my best.
Thump thump thump.
I didn't have to look into it, that song has meaning in our marriage too. Thump thump thump. What an honor to be trusted with this task. What a delightful project this will be. I replied with a lot more than yes, but yes is all that was needed.
Over the next few weeks the song played in my head each day as I brainstormed how to get the lyric he wanted as well as some of the other parts of the song that make it so great onto a mug. How to celebrate this love story. A little follow up to make sure his wife is right handed so an idea I had would have the greatest effect, I learned her nickname, Bonzie. More trust was extended when he said he wanted to see the final piece at the same time as his wife when she opened it at her birthday party. Thump thump thump. I offered to gift wrap it. I used my outrageous glitter wrapping paper. Over the top, why not?
As we arranged getting the box in their hands, I confessed to how this project has been really meaningful, how the story is beautiful to me and I asked for permission to write this post. He agreed and offered to send me photos. Thump thump thump.
I got some great photos from the party and even a video of Bonzie opening her glittery gift. The family played the song as she opened it and after a bit of figuring out what it was, she was overcome with emotion. I'm not sharing that here, I'm keeping that to myself. Thump thump thump.
Later I heard from Bonzie herself and she sent me photos of her and her love with the mug.
Ya know, it takes quite a bit of commitment, patience, kindness, and understanding to maintain this kind of love between two people over 47 years. Though our marriage is only half that long so far, it's what I'm hoping we can maintain as well.
Similarly, it takes a lot of commitment, patience and I'll admit it, love, to develop a talent for pottery too, so to combine my love for love and my love for pottery into one project just meant the world to me.
I'm so thankful that I was asked to make this mug.
Here are some photos of the many elements of this mug. It's a lot to take in, but I'm told that it's cherished. Happy Birthday Bonzie!
Thanks for reading!
Michele