I have been having a rougher time getting my thoughts together than ever. I usually wait a few days to let myself come back to Earth but it is still an effort to write. This "Empty NEST Syndrome" has really hit me hard. I will make an attempt, however.
Every year that NEST is in its planning stages, I always think, "What can we do this year to outdo all the others?". I run stuff off of Jan and she is always cool with whatever I come up with. She is always waaaaay too busy in her leg of pre-production. Seriously guys, you have no idea how hard we work to get this thing off the ground from pre-production to production to post-production. You need Peter Jackson or Cecil B. DeMille for chrissakes!
When the dust clears, I am always at home, once again, and mourning the absence of my friends, old and new.
To tell you my thoughts and observations, you might think me a lunatic, a hopeless romantic. You would say I overdramatize. To understand what REALLY goes on at a NEST Gathering, you need to look deep inside your own tickling desires and seek the metaphor in which it lies. If you dig deep enough, you might find that Tickling=Touching=Connecting=Caressing=Safety=Security=Acceptence=Love.
The one thing that you DON'T hear enough in these recaps (and I will let you in on this little secret) is that there is so much hugging and backrubbing and loving caresses (non-sexual) that you begin to wonder if it's really tickling that is really the root of all of this.
Maybe this is NOT what you have been wanting to hear. I know that the people who didn't attend want to hear my juicy details. Just wait. That'll come soon.
Where else, but in your dreams, can you go to a place for a weekend where you are TOTALLY ACCEPTED? This is a place where curling up on a hotel bed with a perfect stranger and not feeling like you need to put on airs, or make small talk, or make sexual advances, is nice and safe and comfortable and right.
Every relationship I ever had was made complete by my lover knowing I was into tickling. I wrapped some kind of feeling of security around it. I trusted them more. I felt safer with them. I was accepted by them. Now, take 80 people over the course of a weekend who ALL accept you unconditionally and you have a cathartic, emotional experience!
And now, my thoughts on the tickling. There was so much, it's hard to even remember. At one point during NEST, I remember looking at Jeff and saying, "Listen". The club was filled with laughter on 2 floors. It was the "music" for 6 hours. We had a ground floor with several bondage devices. When we put it up at the beginning of the day, people began to gather around them like flies investigating a drop of honey; sipping, sniffing. After a while, one person was tied to one, then another, then another.
Meanwhile, upstairs, there were bare feet on laps as tickles and footrubs ensued. A corner couch enveloped Kitten and IrishGirl, and a few of us, sipping beer and watching these schoolgirl-clad beauties giggling as their fingers galloped all over each other. Of course, every once in a while, I had to poke in a thought or two.
Ed looked like a crucified martyr on the St. Andrews Cross, shirt open, beard and long hair flowing, as female fingers probed his torso.
Nightfall, in sexy corset, sitting with our TMF hero (who is also her husband), Shem the (freakin' talented) Penman. A smile the size of a crescent moon on her face as they play.
Curious onlookers at demos with smiles create an awesome still life as they watch a victim laughing and pleading. Their poses remind me of Zeke and the other farmhands at the final scene of the Wizard of Oz, as they looked down at Dorothy.
My Partners in Crime, QB, Mike, Dan. We're hanging out in the little vestibule by her laptop, waiting for more people to come so they can check in. Watching the life outside, while the life inside is a fury of laughs and screams and ...
A long table with more food than you can eat in 3 NEST Gatherings sits with lunch meats, breads, veggies, brownies and cake and dip-ables. A bar downstairs and a bar upstairs serves beer and wine and soft drinks. Oh Man! Beer AND Tickling!!! What could be better!
And now, a few dedications. I am so hesitent, for fear of forgetting some. I know I will and I apologize in advance. My memory sucks. I lost my room key every 5 minutes.
I am so anxious to thank Jeff. You have no idea how happy I am to have reconnected and re-established our longtime friendship. Drew and Ann and The Rays, you guys are a staple of NEST. I can't imagine it without you. Andy, you are awesome! Folks, I have known Andy since the way before the Net. You've read it in my posts I'm sure. It's a friendship that goes way back to when people wrote via snail mail. Holy Crud!
Kitten, what can I say? You are beautiful and sweet and sexy and amazing. You are also the best cuddler and I will think about that very short moment for a long time. Viper and IrishGirl were an awesome couple, and very very cool. OMG there are so many that are flooding back as I am thinking and I am so afraid to leave anyone out. See? I hate this.
BTW: The others were nice enough to keep it quiet but I will now confess. I actually allowed myself to "Lee" to QB and Loralee
Mike, my Brother, Philly Partners in Crime. You are one of my best friends. Lee, my sister, I love you. Dan, the NEST can't function without you! A million thanks to Bride of Dracula and Starwolfe for their tireless work.
Most of all, QB, who is NOT a Queen Bitch no matter what you think. You are the sweetest, most caring woman I have ever met. NEST could NEVER be pulled off without you. You are the stem of the Feather and we are nothing but your quills. Haha! That was good.
Thank you again, Yaqi for good thoughts and gracious gifts. I will talk to you soon. We all thought about you and appreciate you.
Thank you Tickle TV for your ongoing support of NEST and the TMF. Your actions are always appreciated and noted.
I hope this wasn't too sappy for all of you. Again, I apologize if I left you out. It is not intentional. I am just so wacky right now.
I DO hope it has inspired some of you to take a chance and come out for the next NEST. You will never be disappointed. It will continue to be bigger and greater than the last.
Now, has anyone seen my room key?
Max
Every year that NEST is in its planning stages, I always think, "What can we do this year to outdo all the others?". I run stuff off of Jan and she is always cool with whatever I come up with. She is always waaaaay too busy in her leg of pre-production. Seriously guys, you have no idea how hard we work to get this thing off the ground from pre-production to production to post-production. You need Peter Jackson or Cecil B. DeMille for chrissakes!
When the dust clears, I am always at home, once again, and mourning the absence of my friends, old and new.
To tell you my thoughts and observations, you might think me a lunatic, a hopeless romantic. You would say I overdramatize. To understand what REALLY goes on at a NEST Gathering, you need to look deep inside your own tickling desires and seek the metaphor in which it lies. If you dig deep enough, you might find that Tickling=Touching=Connecting=Caressing=Safety=Security=Acceptence=Love.
The one thing that you DON'T hear enough in these recaps (and I will let you in on this little secret) is that there is so much hugging and backrubbing and loving caresses (non-sexual) that you begin to wonder if it's really tickling that is really the root of all of this.
Maybe this is NOT what you have been wanting to hear. I know that the people who didn't attend want to hear my juicy details. Just wait. That'll come soon.
Where else, but in your dreams, can you go to a place for a weekend where you are TOTALLY ACCEPTED? This is a place where curling up on a hotel bed with a perfect stranger and not feeling like you need to put on airs, or make small talk, or make sexual advances, is nice and safe and comfortable and right.
Every relationship I ever had was made complete by my lover knowing I was into tickling. I wrapped some kind of feeling of security around it. I trusted them more. I felt safer with them. I was accepted by them. Now, take 80 people over the course of a weekend who ALL accept you unconditionally and you have a cathartic, emotional experience!
And now, my thoughts on the tickling. There was so much, it's hard to even remember. At one point during NEST, I remember looking at Jeff and saying, "Listen". The club was filled with laughter on 2 floors. It was the "music" for 6 hours. We had a ground floor with several bondage devices. When we put it up at the beginning of the day, people began to gather around them like flies investigating a drop of honey; sipping, sniffing. After a while, one person was tied to one, then another, then another.
Meanwhile, upstairs, there were bare feet on laps as tickles and footrubs ensued. A corner couch enveloped Kitten and IrishGirl, and a few of us, sipping beer and watching these schoolgirl-clad beauties giggling as their fingers galloped all over each other. Of course, every once in a while, I had to poke in a thought or two.
Ed looked like a crucified martyr on the St. Andrews Cross, shirt open, beard and long hair flowing, as female fingers probed his torso.
Nightfall, in sexy corset, sitting with our TMF hero (who is also her husband), Shem the (freakin' talented) Penman. A smile the size of a crescent moon on her face as they play.
Curious onlookers at demos with smiles create an awesome still life as they watch a victim laughing and pleading. Their poses remind me of Zeke and the other farmhands at the final scene of the Wizard of Oz, as they looked down at Dorothy.
My Partners in Crime, QB, Mike, Dan. We're hanging out in the little vestibule by her laptop, waiting for more people to come so they can check in. Watching the life outside, while the life inside is a fury of laughs and screams and ...
A long table with more food than you can eat in 3 NEST Gatherings sits with lunch meats, breads, veggies, brownies and cake and dip-ables. A bar downstairs and a bar upstairs serves beer and wine and soft drinks. Oh Man! Beer AND Tickling!!! What could be better!
And now, a few dedications. I am so hesitent, for fear of forgetting some. I know I will and I apologize in advance. My memory sucks. I lost my room key every 5 minutes.
I am so anxious to thank Jeff. You have no idea how happy I am to have reconnected and re-established our longtime friendship. Drew and Ann and The Rays, you guys are a staple of NEST. I can't imagine it without you. Andy, you are awesome! Folks, I have known Andy since the way before the Net. You've read it in my posts I'm sure. It's a friendship that goes way back to when people wrote via snail mail. Holy Crud!
Kitten, what can I say? You are beautiful and sweet and sexy and amazing. You are also the best cuddler and I will think about that very short moment for a long time. Viper and IrishGirl were an awesome couple, and very very cool. OMG there are so many that are flooding back as I am thinking and I am so afraid to leave anyone out. See? I hate this.
BTW: The others were nice enough to keep it quiet but I will now confess. I actually allowed myself to "Lee" to QB and Loralee
Mike, my Brother, Philly Partners in Crime. You are one of my best friends. Lee, my sister, I love you. Dan, the NEST can't function without you! A million thanks to Bride of Dracula and Starwolfe for their tireless work.
Most of all, QB, who is NOT a Queen Bitch no matter what you think. You are the sweetest, most caring woman I have ever met. NEST could NEVER be pulled off without you. You are the stem of the Feather and we are nothing but your quills. Haha! That was good.
Thank you again, Yaqi for good thoughts and gracious gifts. I will talk to you soon. We all thought about you and appreciate you.
Thank you Tickle TV for your ongoing support of NEST and the TMF. Your actions are always appreciated and noted.
I hope this wasn't too sappy for all of you. Again, I apologize if I left you out. It is not intentional. I am just so wacky right now.
I DO hope it has inspired some of you to take a chance and come out for the next NEST. You will never be disappointed. It will continue to be bigger and greater than the last.
Now, has anyone seen my room key?
Max
just the best, kitten???
But, the celebrating and the love go on. I can't begin to describe how much you folks mean to me. We ARE like one big family. Sure, we may have our little spats at times. What family doesn't? 
But, that doesn't negate the love that's there. You know there are real friendships when things like that can be put in the past and left there. 
