JPPD '09 Message from Zee

Merry Meet Everyone!

I am always thrilled to see the comments come in from folks after Pagan Pride Day!!

Now it's my turn to share my comments and send my thanks!
As always, after a year of meetings and tasks, the day came together and was wonderful. We are always lucky with the weather and everyone who should be there is!

Although this year's line up was not as full as other years, you would not have known it from the energy!

We had the greatest workshops and performances!
DruAnn's aura workshop had a HUGE group and they were spellbound as I walked by.
The Belili Moon Belly Dancers were simply AMAZING. Just seeing them arrive and walk around makes you smile. They are all incredibly beautiful and SO talented!!! They really put out a lot of energy and did a long workshop and then performance that was like the Energizer Bunny - it kept going and going! No one wanted them to stop, so they kept on! It was FABULOUS!
Holly and her friends definitely lit up the energy with impromptu drumming and dancing throughout the day, which was wonderful!!
Janie is the undisputed Labyrinth Goddess for Jacksonville!! What a fantastic workshop and experience!!!! She wants to put her energy into creating a permanent labyrinth in Jax - JPPA has committed to helping her do just that! It would be wonderful to open our very own labyrinth at JPPD 2010!!
Hope and her teenage buddies created a new Children's Area experience that was such a hit!!! Gone were the sit-at-the-table-organized-activities and here were the sit-on-blankets-and-paint-faces (and bodies!) And they served as Heralds during the day too which is always a big help to me!
Dee and Bill, as always, ended the day with a wonderful ritual. We had many folks going just to check out Circle!! Everyone loved it!

And to my group of support at the Welcome Booth: Topaz, Amy, Beth, and Jaime. I could not do ANYTHING without you!!!
Amy: Thanks for setting up, standing in, and being an AWESOME best friend of 20+ years!!
Beth: Thanks for setting up the pet shelter and flawlessly having everything ready for the Harvest drives. You might not think you do "enough" but you make one of the most important pieces of PPD happen!
Jaime: Thanks for being our link to the outside world and for connecting us to them! Bringing in the Komen foundation and Red Cross is so very important!
Topaz: You are my rock. You are there for everything - you keep me sane, you keep me motivated, you make me want to be a better person, and you make me feel loved. I could not be me without you.

A special note to Topaz's sons: for years, they have served as volunteers in a quiet and unassuming manner. Every year they are a tremendous help. This year was no different. These boys are an example of manhood, decent humanity, and Pagan belief in helping others.

I cannot forget Autumn! We MISSED you so much!!! THANK YOU for all the help this year! The map was FANTASTIC! I've preserved it for future years!!!

Lastly: In the 9 years we've held JPPD, we've only had two protesters! The first was several years ago and by the time Rick, Tea, and Barry walked over to them, they had run off without speaking!
This time, the cool heads of Topaz and Amy made this year's issue a non-issue. VERY calmly, they called the police (who were AMAZING and will be getting a thank you from JPPA) and then proceeded to ignore the screaming man. This approach shows our maturity as a societal group (Pagans) and our tolerance of others, which is what we are preaching! So, THANK YOU for caring for that issue in the best way possible!!

Granted, it was fun to see Tea chase him down the other street after he'd been chased off by the threat of the cops while she screamed Bible verses at him..... LOL

All in all, it was ANOTHER great day. We are all exhausted, but let me tell you: emails are already flying today with ideas and enthusiasm for the 10 year Anniversary Celebration!
Mark your calendars for Sept 18, 2010!!!!!

Thanks to all the Pagans in Jacksonville!!!!!!!

Zee