Silver Bits and Buttons

Bit Templates for bridles - One is called the 'Santa Barbara'. 

Grandpa sat on a stool in a dusty workshop 

with one lonely lamp. It had a sorry light. I 

would pull my smaller stool as close as 

possible to watch him work. He didn't laugh

when I played with the dust sparkles, lazily 

floating on the current of the open door. He

engraved silver bits, buttons, and buckles 

for belts. The scent of oil-rubbed leather 

mingles in my mind with his graceful 

hands braiding reins in the round with

six strands. I still see the whip in the jaws of 

the stitching horse to keep it firm and taut. The 

knots he created with leather were choreographed 

pieces of art. Heavy waxed thread through a

leather needle followed the hole punched with

the awl. Sometimes, when a tool dropped, I found

it for him. Tooled leather designs came from 

his tap and die set. Intent as any tattoo artist, the

impressions marked the leather, silver, and me - 

forever. 

There is a lovely fold in the timeline of my life -

a pocket shaped sort of fold. It holds Glenwood time, 

which is entirely different than regular time. 

Bulging heavy with memories, I reach in and

grab a handful.