Love: W, X, Y, Z is for…

Here we are coming up to the end of the month (how did that happen?!) and now there aren’t enough days left in the month to do a one-a-day entry in my love letter abecedarium.  Luckily I’m in charge of rule making, rule changing, and doing whatever my heart desires, so today I’m covering the final four letters.  Here we go…

is for webs

Spider webs, interwebs, and me, a Weber, webs.

I know lots of people don’t like spiders, but I’m not one of them.  Seriously, with the surname Weber (which literally is an occupational surname meaning weaver), how could I not be friends with those magic weavers and their webs?  

Dear Webs –

There’s so much to love about you.  You come in so many creative genius forms, from the simplest to the most intricate.  But your very beingness is all about connection.  I love the story of Grandmother Spider being responsible for the stars, having taken her web laced with dewdrops and flinging it into the air.  And I love the concept of Indra’s Web, and the connection of the entire universe as depicted by the infinite jeweled reflections held within the infinite web. It delights me to think of the internet as the interwebs, and that’s truly how it feels to me – all connections available; so many strands available; and the inevitable stickiness of getting trapped in a time or informational vortex.  It delights me to carry web as part of my name, and I know it delighted me as well when I was in my planning stages for this life.  Deborah (Bee) Weber (weaver/of the web).  I certainly didn’t want to forget what medicine was available to me, did I? Thank you for the magic. I love you!

Deborah

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is for x(oxo)

It’s always a curiosity to me when you’ve seen something all your life and then suddenly you wonder what it means.  How did x is xoxo come to mean kisses?  That’s something I wondered this month, our month of valentines and all things love.  Thank goodness for the interwebs which make research so easy.  According to the often useful Wikipedia:

“The common custom of placing Xs on envelopes, notes and at the bottom of letters to mean kisses dates back to the Middle Ages, when a Christian cross was drawn on documents or letters to mean sincerity, faith, and honesty. A kiss was then placed upon the cross, by the signer as a display of their sworn oath. It was also used in early Christian history as much of a display of the same. Since most of the common people could not read or write, the ‘X’ was placed on documents, and a kiss placed upon it as a show of their sincerity.”

Dear X –

There’s something about knowing the origin of symbolism that deeply touches my heart.  I feel an overwhelming sense of compassion of what it might be like not to be able to read or write, and what it must have meant to sign with an x and then kiss is as a sign of sincerity.  My heart blows a kiss to everyone who has ever done this when it was done out of cultural necessity.  I will never look at xoxo’s in quite the same way anymore, and no doubt that’s a good thing.  Expanding one’s awareness is something to be celebrated I think.  And I also think there is always the need for more kisses in this world, so here’s to seeing more of you. 

Deborah

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              is for you

I think I’d be remiss in doing an abecedarium of love letters if I didn’t do one for you. 

Dear You –

Yes you – for everyone who has ever read a word on this blog; who has ever given a moment of their attention to what I’ve written or rambled or shared about; who has taken time to leave or comment or visit more quietly  – my heart is filled with gratitude and love.  You bless me.  You make me laugh and smile and think and inspire me. And you let me know I’m not alone.  Life can be such an adventure, with the good and the hard; the questions and the discoveries; the rememberings and the creating.  But no matter what the particular flavor of the moment, it’s always wonderful to know you’re not alone.  And so I thank you.  And I love you in all your unique preciousness, and wish you the most wondrous of things.

Deborah

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          is for zeppelins

Oh I have such love for zeppelins, although truthfully I prefer the term blimp which always makes me laugh.  I like dirigible too.  But zeppelin is delightful as well and makes a perfect z entry don’t you think?

Dear Zeppelins –

I have some very distinct memories in my childhood of looking out the 2^nd story windows at my grandmother’s and seeing blimps.  It happened so rarely that each sighting really was a cause for celebration and deeply seared in my memory.  Blimps were the most magical things I could imagine, and frankly you’re still pretty high up on the list. Sometimes I feel sad that so much of airtime for so many of your kind has to be spent hovering over sports arenas. I imagine that much be exceedingly boring.  Just the idea of it gives me a headache. I think zeppelins should have free reign – fly where you want to, see what you want, show up in unexpected places and delight spectators.  Yes!  That’s what I would wish for you.  I love when you make appearances in my dreams; I love that there was once a mailartist who loved you as well and always included your image in his mailings; I love that the steampunk genre embraces your wonderfulness as well.   Fly high and be happy dear zeppelins. I love you!

Deborah

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Just to wrap things up we probably should have Led Zeppelin sing us out with Stairway to Heaven, don’t you think?

And now it’s your turn.  Have something to say about webs? Love blimps like I do?  Sign your notes with xoxo?  Have a suggestion for my next abecedarium?  Do tell – you know I love to hear?