When I was 14, I bought a spike bracelet in a shop on 8th street. This spike bracelet was special. It was different. It’s quality was better than that of the typical spike bracelet. The leather was better and the spikes more distinct. These pyramid spikes peaked higher and where sharper. And through my life, I never saw anyone with the same style spike bracelet. They always had the typical one that was shallow and dulled. You can find those today usually on belts.
I’ve always held on to this bracelet. Although for many years I didn’t where it and actually pact it away in a box stored at my mothers house, I rediscovered it and held on to it in a more accessible place. I would were it and not. And the main reason for not was that I was afraid of losing it. It’s an important object for me. Mainly cause it symbolizes my adolescent emancipation. A time I decided that I would re-invent myself and display a message to the establishment that I was not an easy target that would follow the herds. I have spikes now, so don’t tread on me or you’ll get hurt. More importantly my decent is unique cause these spikes are special. This is not just an adolescent phase.
I’m still the same person I was then. Different, but the core is the same. My values are the same although my approach may be different but I still have the bracelet. In my 30’s I wore this spike bracelet more as a group of friends where buying jewelry from a designer that made pieces with a style and flare of rock N’roll rebel. For me they were just discovering them selves and celebrating their emancipation from the establishment. However, their ability to afford this jewelry was the result of their submission to it. I wore my spike bracelet with pride that it’s value was minute monetarily but much greater in it’s virtue. And because of this weight I was always afraid that I would lose it or lose a spike from it. As I said it’s unique. And can not be replaced.
This last month when I could finally afford it, I had a replica made from it with sterling silvers spikes and a buckle. Dave Pressley (917.771.9557) did a great job. He is a very talented jewelry designer. Although he felt that he made a copy, he did not. His buckle design worked perfect and has added an aristocratic quality to it that creates an irony that enhances the piece.
This new piece has already become very special to me. As I explained to a friend the story of how I had it re-invented because of my sentimental value of the older one. She said, “ this one is now to symbolize your arrival” And she is right!
Click to enlarge
This is my midyear report card of my sophomore year in high school. I cherish this relic of my past.
When recently asked why I would want to keep it? My answer was,” I’d like to show it to my kid when he is having trouble with school in his adolescents. I want to show him the proof and know that his father had trouble with school. I want him to know that his report card and experience in high school does not determine the worth of his identity and cap the value of what he will achieve in his lifetime.”
This report card for me is proof of a miracle. If you look closely at it, you will see that the common reason given for my failure is excessive absence. And this was true. I didn’t show up for school most of that whole quarter. But I didn’t fail every class. I passed one. And as the others I did not show and should of failed. Although science can rationalize it as a simple coincidence, I see it as a personal message to me by God or what ever you want to call that thing that is responsible for the cosmic order. Of all the report cards that I’ve had in my education, this one was the truest representation of me, my hope and the faith in my life, at a time when if asked, I would of denied and replied, ” If I had a button that could destroy the world, I would press it!”
On the report card the class is abriviated.
Photographed rock’n'roll shows always look the same to me, so this is how I do it!
click here for photomontage
Rock’n'Roll will never die and these guys helped keep it alive. Once again Michael H and his buddy’s and band Andy Hilfiger and Scott Lipps, New York Dolls Guitarist Steve Conte and bassist Sami Yaffa playing the classics of garage punk and helped me get out of my work funk.
I was was at a bar-b-que in Bedford Stuyvesant during the memorial day weekend. It’s a beautiful Neighborhood with hundred year old town houses. When you walk down the streets you can imagine horse and buggies moving about. I had a wonderful time and before I knew it it was late and it was time for me to go home. But as I was about to hit the subway I was told that “A” subway line had been shut down after midnight do to track work. So I was invited to crash. I was also told that it’s not good to walk in the neighborhood at night. Bed Stuy is the ghetto deep in Brooklyn.
That night Stella (who also was crashing there) and I decided to have a smoke out on the stoop. It was late but there were a couple of people across the street also were hanging out on the their stoop. As we were puffing away we hear, “po po po pow!” Gun shots from the rooftops. Stella says to me, “I think we should go inside!” I reply, “Don’t worry about it… it’s just some kids gun clapping on the rooftops.” After all it’s the hood and I’ve heard that in my neighborhood before the gentrification. Stella said, “I don’t know Caroline told me that it gets kind of crazy around here and there was someone shot just the other day.” I said,”well I’d like to finish my cigar and it’s not on the street. It’s on the roof top.” Then again,”po po po po pow!” from another rooftop in a slightly different direction. Stella was at the door standing at this point, “I’m going inside! I’m not staying out here! Come inside” I replied, “I think I’m going sit and finish my cigar.” “POW!” again. “Dylan come inside! look the people across the street are going inside and they’ve lived here all their lives!” I looked across and sure enough the were evacuating their spot. I decided to take Stella up on her suggestion. I went inside.
I thought to my self, “Damb, Iraq must be like this minus the car bombs…. maybe as Americans, we should be dealing with our war here”
