Props to my Best Friend!
A couple of days ago, I wrote about starting a revolution - not the bloody type, mind you, but one about bringing artistic and social change. Well, let me tell you, my girlfriend Nikki is doing it right now! I’m so proud of her and frankly am just a little more than awestruck. I’ve written about her before, but just in case you’ve forgotten, I’ll mention our history again. I met her in Boston when we were both flight attendants for United Airlines. After our intial introduction and a rocky start, I won her over. Over time, we decided we really liked working together and began bidding the same routes. For about 2 years until 9/11, we worked together and would sit on the back jump seat bitching about our jobs and dreaming about what we would do if we ever quit.
After 9/11, I took a leave of absence and finished my degree in art, Nikki continued working until she met her soon to be husband who I think changed her outlook on life. He inspired her to do things she had never done before - including attending Burning Man. Soon she moved out to San Francisco, resigned from United and began her new passion designing clothing for Burning Man. Her fashions were so well received that other people began asking for her work and Wild on the Inside was born. She’s taking her wild and colorful designs to the public today when she has a guest spot on View from the Bay (archived video) and will present Dusty Dreams: A Playa Fantasy Fashion Show, which is part of Prepare for the Playa series of events. She’s organized three local events to promote Burning Man related vendors and frankly, I just know she’s going to soar!
Artists are often colorful people - but most likely you wouldn’t notice one walking by you on the street, save maybe Andy Warhol and a few others. I just love that my friend Nikki is treating her body (and others) like a canvas - it’s wild - colorful and definitely not boring - a far cry from the navy uniforms and black pumps we used to wear. I love that we have so many choices and today, I celebrate Nikki for being willing to stand out in a crowd and to march to her own drummer and voice. I wish more of us would be willing to do so! The closest I got was when she flew out for my 40th birthday and she made me wear a crazy wig when we went skiing in Steamboat.
We live in such a homogenous society, isn’t it refreshing to see something colorful? frankly, I think it scares people to be different and some are threatened by those of us who don’t conform. But,if Nikki has her way, we’ll all be eye candy and there will never be a dull moment!
Let your wild out everyone,
