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I have always hated my hands. I bit my nails as a youngster. My fingers are crooked. I used to put them in splints, thinking I could straighten them. I did all I could to hide them: wore gloves, never rings, and whenever possible, hid them in my pockets. I was in my 20s when I first wore nail polish. There was nothing worse than the glimmer from the clear polish—except for colour highlights on the ends of my fingers. Nail polish called attention, and I didn’t want anyone looking.
Wouldn’t it figure that during my university years I worked in my father’s jewellery boutique? I was mortified when customers came in and then, those words, “I’d like to take a look at…” It didn’t matter how the sentence finished, I knew my hands were going to be zoomed in on once I opened the showcase to pull out the requested watch, ring, bracelet, necklace, or cufflink.

After years of this antipathy toward them, my hands gave me a very special gift.

On a trip to Thailand, it was my time spent at an orphanage that proved to be the most memorable. I rose early in the morning, drove through the congested streets of Bangkok, and arrived at the gates of the orphanage school at breakfast time. Clusters of children were gathered around tables, taking part in the routine events that start every new day. The conditions were surprisingly pleasant yet humbling. A frail-looking girl, removed from the group, sat cross-legged on the floor of her sleeping quarters alone, entertaining herself by clapping her hands. I moved toward her. She was five years old but unable to speak. And so we sat there, beside each other, holding hands. I don’t know how much time passed, and it didn’t matter.

NUVO editor Claudia Cusano.

While I’m unable to extend my hand to you, I know that we at NUVO can reach out to you through our magazine. In this autumn edition, Issue 102, is a collection of stories including cover talent Manny Jacinto, who is on a mission to inspire a new generation of actors while defying the Dark Side of Star Wars fandom; ceramicist Laura Pasquino and her perfectly imperfect orb vessels; Claudia Dey on writing as necessity, deconstructing archetypes, and her latest novel, Daughter; Haven founders Arthur and Daniel Chmielewski and the massive success of their ready-to-wear clothing line; Studio of Contemporary Architecture (SOCA) founders Tura Cousins Wilson and Shane Laptiste; the Sleemans, a father-and-sons team, and their upstart Spring Mill Distillery; the trio—Lukas Peet, Caine Heintzman, and Matt Davis—running A-N-D Light; and contemporary artist Marcel Dzama. It wouldn’t be an issue of NUVO without a jewellery feature, and for this fall issue we showcase the brilliant galaxy that is Tiffany Céleste, the new Tiffany & Co. Blue Book collection.

With age, my disdain for my hands has softened—it is more of a dislike now. I still wear gloves, and my fingers are ringless. I do continue to put my hands in my pockets, but I now wear nail polish—clear and also coloured, preferably red or coral. Learn to love what you hate is what we’re told. I love a human touch.

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