Last night's celebration of the release of Hooping was a precious, heartwarming, a rockin fun good time with the super tight hoop community of San Francisco! Ariane and I arrived at the Make-Out Room before the event started and prepped the space, books, hoops and our outfits. We toasted a glass of pink champagne with Annie, who had also come early to set up for some Annieland vending she was doing. Even before anyone arrived, there were surging feelings. Joyfulness at our accomplishment of the book done and selling at bookstores. Relaxation that this project was finally done! Excitement about the evening and who would come play. Contentment with how the morning's interview had gone. Anticipation of the coming 15 city tour! Amazement at how things have grown and evolved over time. Gratitude for everyone who contributed their thoughts and pictures to the book... surges and surges of astonishment...
Watching Annie was particularly nostalgic for me. I remember back in the day when I first got started in San Francisco when she was a quiet, somewhat meek student, then turned hesitant teacher, then confident teacher, then turned Allstar, then turned Hoop Diva-fashion designer, and now, stylish fully self possessed fashion innovator-trendsetter! Incredible.
Later in the evening when seeing Satise, I felt the same thing. I remembered back when she was starting up alongside Annie as a student, then teacher then performer. Performances in the San Francisco Ferry Building with her husband, Eric, videotaping. Just giving small tastes of being in public at first... and now, again, a fully inhabited Hoop Diva and empowering troupe leader!
Watching her and many others hoop on stage was just so amazing, knowing that I may have played a part in their hooping lives. It was quite touching as I watched all their gorgeous moves to remember how we all teach each other ~ what goes around, comes around, and in ways most people there are now my teachers! There is always something new to learn...
So many wonderful people came to the event! Just a few of the many, many names which come to mind: Jenny Sevarro, JennaLuna, Rich, Lauren, Khan, Paige, Victor, my mom Athena and her squeeze Art!, Kramer, Scott our amazing photographer!, Rosie and Ken, Jada, Heather Troy and Claudia all the way from Santa Cruz, Morgan all the way from Reno, Keiko, Kirin, Kerry, Sharon, and Jessica and dozens more! HoopGirl's new office manager, Jessica, held down the book vending fort and graced us with her eternal radiant smile...
I was tickled about the booksigning part! In fact, I delighted in finding just the right words to put in each volume for each person. So much fun to send a pulse of light through a small inscription. The fact that people were in line waiting at times was a bit surreal and completely honoring. I was so touched!
The evening progressed with great impromtu performances, smiles, and good times. What a heartwarming way to start the tour.... I am overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment. I know that bringing the message of hooping to the mainstream on this level will bring so much hooping joy into countless lives! I am so grateful! I feel as if I have delivered, perhaps, my life's biggest contribution to help foster a thriving, interconnected global hoop community. It is my hope that this massive movement, devoted to creativity and feeling good, will in turn will uplift the vibration of the planet with their laughter, love and joy!