Journal of the mental environment
Photo: Paul Rich
Washington, 2005
To thank my ushers for flying out to Tacoma, Washington to participate in my wedding, I had to think of a gift that they would appreciate and use (versus the standard wedding offerings). The answer: Blackspot sneakers! Purchased with the help of La Paloma Sabanera in Hartford, Connecticut. One reason I chose to give out Blackspot Sneakers as gifts was that they are manufactured in Portugal, where my parents emigrated from and where my family lives. It made the gift much more a product of our marriage because, unlike standard 'usher's mementos,' these are linked to my heritage (and thankfully also to my political views).
— Helder Mira
