Happy Wunnanikka

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Glad i deg is a Norwegian phrase that translates literally to “Glad in you,” but it seems to be used as a way of expressing appreciation for others that is missing from English.

Through all the shit this year threw at us, glad i deg.

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This year’s gift is inspired by classic embroidery patterns and the tangliness of jasmine vines. With all the shit that the future is throwing at us now that we’re in it, I thought it’s not a bad idea to remember to stay tangled up with each other’s ideas and lives and projects and hopes so we’re harder to unravel.

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I had a hard time thinking of what, if any, message to include in this year’s papercut. I don’t think I’m the only one here who, when looking back at 2018, would laugh at the idea of finding a single thing to say about where we are now. Shit’s been real, huh?

I looked at the previous designs, and realized that even though I’ve looked a whole lot at the traditional Polish papercuts (wycinanki) that inspired this current tradition, I’ve never made one that was a straightforward wycinanki. They’re good enough on their own, and dang are the little old Polish ladies who make them good at it. So, likewise, I decided to go with the original reason for why I do this quixotic endurance crafting session once a year – I’m thinkin about you. Even if I never send that email I keep meaning to send, or followed up on that invitation to catch up, if you’re getting this I’ve thought about you fondly this year.

This year’s gift is in memory of Corby Gillmore. Those of you who knew him knew how solid, funny, kind, and just fuckin great he was. I have no idea how he managed to stay so steady and decent through nearly constant pain, but I hope I never stop appreciating that he did. He always supported my dumb little traditions, so this one’s for you, Corby.

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Shortly after I moved back to Portland from Glasgow, I heard a convincing argument for the merits of the Pterodactyl. Dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles all have their thing – spikey tails, clubby tails, tall necks, bitey teeth, etc. Pterodactyls and other Pterosaurs, by those measures, kinda suck (well, besides Quetzalcoatlus). But they flew. They saw things from a broader perspective, with an enormous range.

Since then, the Pterodactyl became my personal mascot of critical thinking – of finding the meta perspective. It’s been a weird year, and I appreciate all of you Pterodactyls and your Pterodactyling more than ever. Vive le Pterodactyl.

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I mean it.

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Please enjoy this traditional Wunnanikka carol.