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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

To Be Safe

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From the time I was around 15 years old I have always worn a safety pin on my clothing.

The favored place is around a belt loop on my jeans, but they have been pinned to other places as needed; a tag on the underside of a skirt, through shoelaces, just inside a pocket. The location of the safety pin is not important, what IS important is what they do for me.

They keep me safe.

This habit started with a friend who did the same thing. His name was Jason Killilea and I noticed his safety pins along the bottom seam of his Jimmy'Z shorts for weeks before asking why he wore them. "To keep me safe!" he countered, and it made perfect sense.

Safety pins = safety.

Their name suddenly opened up a whole new mindset. And so I borrowed his unique idea and made it my own.

Safety pins along the seams of my favorite jean jacket. Safety pins as jewelry. Safety pins adorning my shoes. Safety pins everywhere! And when asked why I wear them, I have always echoed the answer that Jason gave to me decades ago: to keep me safe.

An added bonus is that I am amazed at how often someone is in need of a safety pin - and I get to be the hero who happens to have one handy.

I never would have imagined that this was something I would carry into my adult years. The funny thing is, though, I have remained safe.

Is it because of the safety pins?

Well, who am I to say that it's not?

12 comments:

diane rene said...

I LOVE this idea! and I think it's really neat that you have carried this on into adulthood.

Cari said...

I just might have to adopt that idea!

Shannon said...

First of all, the mention of JimmyZ shorts sent me into immediate flashback mode. Second, if the multitude of safety pins that my 17-year old daughter wears and carries around constantly might in some way keep her safe as she journeys through life...I'm on my way to Wal-mart to buy a whole lot more!!

Anaise said...

I dreamed about you last night . . . but that's beside the point.

I always have diaper pins attached somewhere--they're like safety pins only size jumbo-gigantic. And I, too, always feel better knowing I have one near.

Unknown said...

Where do you come up with this stuff?! It's priceless! I love it. Were you just sitting there the other day, idly fingering your trusty safety pin, and you thought, "that would actually make a good post..."? Genius!

You are such a character. I guess that Jason Killilea was the character first, but we won't go there. We all have to be inspired somehow.

My new mission in life is to be as cool as Gerb. ;)

Just SO said...

I am always in need of a safety pin. I guess I'll know where to go if I need one! (either that or I'll have to start carrying one around myself.)

Jamie said...

I'm so glad someone else has a love for safety pins! I must admit that my love has faded a bit with age, BUT I have been an avid safety pin gal! I had them everywhere. I made a few hemp necklace with them as well. Of course, my mother thought I was strange and trying to be too "edgy"... so I cooled it for a while. :) Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I'm glad to hear they have kept you safe. :)

Rachel said...

You are the person I need always sitting next to me. Two weeks ago in church, I look down, my shirt is gaping open in a most alarmingly immodest fashion....somewhere between home and church....the one button that would make a shirt a huge problem is missing....I needed a safety pin and fast!

Gerb said...

Diane- I never really thought much about it, it just stuck with me.

Cari- Adopt away! It's been a lifesaver a few times.

Shannon- I would love to meet you in real life. Anyone who knows what JimmyZ are just has to be awesome. My JimmyZ skirt was my favorite. I tried to find a picture of the shorts to link it to online but apparently they closed up shop a couple years back.

Anaise- Well, you've got me intrigued. I'm always curious about what I'm doing in people's dreams! But I love that you're a fellow safety-pin wearer. Rock on!

Lori- Um, mission accomplished! I actually didn't have a dang thing to write about and, like you said, I looked down and saw my safety pin and thought, "That'll have to do!" Glad you enjoyed it.

SO- I'm here when you need me. With safety pins.

MBGITWWR- Thanks for the comment, fellow safety-pin lover! I have made bracelets, necklaces and earrings from safety pins as well. My wearing of them has toned down plenty but my love for them remains. You've got good taste!

Rachel- Just call & I'll be there, safety pins in hand. I'm like Batman, only with no cool outfit and safety pins instead of gadgets. I'm here for you.

Mom not Mum (Sandy) said...

This reminds me of a girl I went to highschool with. She wore a band-aid above her right knee no matter WHAT she was wearing. I'm not sure why. It isn't as if she could remove the bandage so someone could use it for a small cut. I think the "safe"ty pin is a much better idea.

Shannon said...

Gerb -
I would love to meet you in real life as well - in fact, you've become quite an inspiration to me...whenever I am struggling through life with 4 kids, I think to myself.."Gerb has 9...N.I.N.E." and then I feel like my quandary is not so overwhelming. You amaze me. One day, we just may run into each other...and I hope you are wearing your birthday shoes when we do :-).

mindfulmama said...

Im a fellow safety pin lover! I wore a ton of them in my teenage year! Esp on my shirts and my doc marten laces! I made necklaces out of them too! There were always people in need of them and I was their go-to-girl!

Mom not Mum: Maybe that girl had a birthmark or something she wanted to hide? Maybe she was a cutter?

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