I am a Watcher

“I am a watcher,
part of a secret society of men and women
who observe and record, but never interfere.
We know the truth about immortals”

Never interfere? Never? *snort*
Were you watching the same TV show I was?

One of these days, I’m going to find my Watcher necklace. In high school, I never went a day without wearing it. Which, looking back, might be one of a hundred reasons I didn’t date much in high school. Or maybe I just hadn’t found the right Highlander fan to share my passion with back then. I’m sure I didn’t get rid of the necklace… but I haven’t been able to find it for years. I suspect it’s in some box from my storage unit I haven’t gone through yet.

Until I find it, I will have to resort to showing my love for my all-time favorite television program, Highlander: the series, in the form of wall art. I am now the proud owner (and displayer) of a carved, wooden Watcher symbol.

Looks great up there on the wall, doesn’t it? Yeah, well, it didn’t have the easiest path there.

I first saw it years ago at a store at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. As the show’s last episode was in 1998, it’s not often that you encounter Highlander merch these days. I was drawn to it immediately. I was at the faire with a friend who was purchasing an item at a different shop for her house, and I decided to make myself a promise: as soon as I bought my own house, I would buy the Highlander Watcher’s symbol and hang it over my door. Every year at the faire, I spotted the symbol, lusted after it, but stayed true to my promise. After all, what good is a lovely, crafted, wooden anything without somewhere decent to display it?

Finally, last year I bought my own house. I still haven’t had a housewarming party… because I still haven’t moved in completely or unpacked. I suspect all my friends and coworkers have given up hope by now. But it is one of my 101 Things in 1001 Days, so there’s still a good chance one day they will all be invited over eventually. Anyway, last year I skipped going to the Maryland Renaissance Festival because I was sick the weekend all my friends were going. I thought longingly about the Watcher symbol I wanted to buy, but decided my dream could wait a year. After all, at that point in time, I wasn’t living in my new house yet so it didn’t really feel like mine yet.

This year, I missed out on going as well. And, in fact, two friends went and I only realized afterward that I should have asked them to buy the item for me. The thought hadn’t even occurred to me. I had such tunnel vision: drive all the way to the faire, buy the Watcher’s symbol, hang out with friends, then drive home. It didn’t occur to me that there could be a variation of that which might work better for me, especially as my recent health issues are preventing me from eating anything sinfully delicious on a stick. However, when I heard another friend was going the following day, I seized the opportunity. At practically the last minute, I sent an email asking if she might be able to pick the item up for me. I included photos I’d taken of it on previous visits, including one photo with the item circled, so she would know exactly what I wanted.

And, because she is a great friend and a wonderful person, she picked it up for me! It is beautiful–everything I had hoped for all these years. Aaaaaaand now I think we have more evidence of why I’m not dating now. The point is, I am now the proud owner of a wooden Watcher symbol to be displayed… um… over my door? There was a spot right above my door that was perfect for it. For months now I’ve envisioned that spot being filled with it. But now that I had it… the spot above my television set was looking like an even better choice. I liked the irony involved in having a Watcher symbol above something I watched Highlander on. And I didn’t want anything too busy above the TV, such as a poster or something, that would detract from the television screen. Still… above the door… I’d imagined that for years! I ended up asking friends and even asking the highlander worldwide Yahoo group for advice. In the end, I went with the spot over the television set. Which, of course, you know because of the image above.

I used some strong command adhesive strips to mount it on the wall, in case I ever wanted to easily take it down again. I carefully measured so that it was dead center and I stuck it on the wall. It stayed. And I was thrilled. I took a few photos and called it a job well done. Then I headed into my office/craft room to write. About twenty minutes later, I hear a loud THUNK. With a terrible feeling that I knew exactly what that was, I returned to my living room to find the symbol gone and hiding so far behind the television cabinet I couldn’t see or reach it. After reaching between the cable box and DVD player shelves, I managed to dislodge it from the cables and roll it to the side enough for me to reach it. I surveyed the situation for a moment, considering my options. I had brought a nail and hammer up from downstairs, but for some idiotic reason, I decided to give the command strips one more try. So I went to stick it back up and discovered the fall had cracked it slightly! It’s not noticeable at all, thankfully, but I felt just awful for damaging it. Carefully eyeballing the location, I put it back on the wall, pressing harder this time, holding for longer this time. And this time it stayed in place. I was thrilled. I returned to my NaNoNovel and continued writing, but not before I put two blankets behind the television set. There was little chance of it falling again, but just in case it did, I wanted to keep it from breaking a second time. About fifteen minutes later, there was a soft thunk. There it was, behind the television, resting on the blankets. For my third attempt, I drove a nail into my beautiful wall and sucked up the damage. It’s worth it, though. The thing has not fallen since and I think it looks great mounted there. I see it every time I enter or leave my house, as it’s just to the side of my front door. So even though it’s not directly above the door, it’s still got a great presence and I’m thrilled with my decision.