“I’ve
called this brief gathering of the tribe to honor Jeff in a Leather tradition.
Many of
you are friends we know, some are friends we do not know yet.
Jeff became
my boy in 2003, then my slave in 2004.
The course
of the relationship has changed again.
We are now
peered, friend to friend.
Leathermen
have a tradition of marking milestones in their journeys; sometimes privately,
sometimes publicly.
Most of
the milestones for me and Jeff have been marked privately.
I wanted
to consciously mark this milestone publicly.
A succinct
highlight about Jeff's service to me traveling the Leather path together for
almost five years:
1. He was my leatherboy or
leatherslave 24/7.
2. He was my confidant.
3. He consistently carried out my
standing orders: Strive to be mindfully
present with a loving heart.
4. He accompanied me to conferences
here and in other states and assisted me with numerous presentations.
5. He serviced my boots, my Harley,
and my leathers.
6. He serviced and aroused me, in the
dungeon and out.
While Jeff
was in my service he already had a belt.
He had some boots. His
daughter-in-law gave him a motorcycle jacket.
I kept open for an opportunity that felt right to present earned
Leathers. Today is the day. This is the moment.”
[Officer
Wes pulls a handsome pair of calf-high oil-tanned boots out of his police gear
bag, shows them to Jeff and the crowd, and continues]
“Jeff
loved these boots when he saw them in 2007.
Having
been Jeff’s Master or Sir for half a decade, I take this opportunity to
state something everyone here who has witnessed Jeff's path already intuitively
knows: ‘While you served me as my
boy and slave for the past five years, you have earned your Leathers.’
Take these
boots as a symbol that your Leathers are earned.
May you continue your journey with great joy and
adventure.”
These were the written notes for the presentation. The presentation-by-memory was a bit
different, but captured the essence of what is here.
Witnesses to Jeff’s recognition included Roadkill,
his pup Jeff, Jack S. / Uncle Sparky, Daddy Mike and his boy Bryan, Vinnie L and
Sam, Rowdy, Lynn / Trench, and many others.
www.officerwes.com
© 2008
by Officer Wes