Mermaid Kalliope
01-09-2014, 07:52 PM
Okay! So, now it is my turn to type up my NCMerfest report/story/whathaveyou.
SO! A huge thank you to ChristoMer Starfish and Mermaid Hyli to start off. I couldn't have come without their help. ^_^
Before going, I was extremely nervous and worried. I had talked to some of you online before and felt like friends, but I had never met a single one of you in person. I kept hearing about people who had met others and how great it'd be to see them again. "Great... No one will know me, and I might be that awkward acquaintance that every one is nice to out of manners and politeness. I'm going to be on the edge of all the groups of people and no one knows who I am in the community... " was going through my head. I was so excited to meet people like Hyli, Iona (Who sadly could not attend), Lanai (Who also couldn't attend), Raina, and many others that I knew would be there, but I was afraid that a few of them would brush me off because I'm such a small time mer. Boy, was I wrong.
As I sat lonely in the Hilton, Marie showed up and asked if I was there for merfest, then Echinacea and Mermaid Julz and everyone. That's it... I wasn't alone anymore. We went swimming and had a great time. I FINALLY met Meridian Mer-Gyver... It only took a 3,000 mile trip, right? Haha I felt accepted and loved all weekend. I got to hop into the hot tub next to none other than the tail man himself, Thom Shouse. Well, it can't get any worse than meeting a hero while in a bikini and he's in his swim trunks! We got talking right away, and MAN he has stories! I loved listening to all his wisdom and knowledge. He truly is an amazing man, and I look forward to time spent with him in the future! That Thursday was just a taste of what was to come.
So, Friday came about quite quickly and I got to open my AMAZING tail by Raven of Merbellas. (Unboxing video to come... It's in editing stages.) Got to swim in it with Pirate Cicero, JV, Hyli and her human. :-P Later that night was the "dreaded" mixer. I only say "dreaded" because this was the moment. This is when I'd meet everyone and find out if I belonged or not. Shyly I looked around at all the people gathered in the lobby, trying to find anyone I could talk to. I asked someone if Raina was there, and they pointed me to her. I go over, meek yet confident to introduce myself. I got to about "Hi, I'm Kai---" before I was being smushed into an enthusiastic hug. "Wow!" I thought to myself, "I didn't even get to say who I am!" That really did a lot to help me feel more relaxed around everyone. After that I felt like I could talk to anyone there. I wasn't scared anymore. (Thanks, Raina! ) The mixer was fun and awesome and great. :3
Saturday.... Man, was I tired that morning. Haha The fashion show! THAT was an experience. I had never done a catwalk or been fully painted. So. Much. New. I was terrified I'd make a fool of myself, but I didn't. Everyone was so nice and kept complimenting me and boy did I rock that birdcage! :D Once that was over, I felt SO AMAZING. Not only did I conquer the catwalk, I did it with a birdcage on my head in a dress that was trying to trip me and shoes that didn't quite fit. Haha Thank you Revonne! It was an amazing experience. Well, then it was off to the dry and wet shoot. Dry shoot was easy peasy, it was the underwater I was nervous about... Well, after some lovely help from Sean, I got in my tail and in the pool. I swam about to warm up, and got a lot of pictures and attention. Crazy cool. <3 So, once I felt ready I went over to Steve for my pictures. Boy was I nervous. After talking to him and hearing feedback and tips, I feel a lot more confident about my modelling. HUGE thank you to him. I asked him for his downright blunt opinion and what he told me made me want to cry right there I was so touched. (Great, I'm crying now. It's good, though! ) Well, I swam around and got to swim with Raina, which was really cool. Especially holding hands! I was nervous it'd throw me off, but it didn't. :-P Well, more swimming goofing off and pictures happened then it was time for the Ball... Mmmmm yummy food. :3 Dancing, singing, shenanigans and stuff happened. It was fun and great and yeah. Haha I didn't care if my legs hurt, I was gonna dance them right off! We came back to the Hilton for the after party, which was calm and fun. Really connected with Lei Loni then. ^_^ It was great.
Well, sleep came eventually and turned the night into Sunday! I dragged myself to TAC and after an hour or so finally got into my tail for more swimming and fun. I met this wonderful little girl who belongs to Kellie and let me swim with her. It was my first experience swimming with a kid! It was so magical and amazing. I got to talk to a few other kids and it was just so amazing to see their faces and you could just tell they were thinking "Wow... a REAL mermaid!" Such an amazing feeling. :3 I can't wait to do parties. Just for that look! The luau came around and talking, raffles, eating, limbo, fire eating, and hula took place. It didn't feel like the end. It was a great ending to a great weekend though. After the luau, it was back to the Hilton again! I got to make a little girl happy and swam around some more. Finally got pictures with Luma! :-P Girl, we need to majorly go swim together. Like, seriously go swim! :-P That STILL didn't feel like the end......
...Then, Monday morning. The quiet gathering at the Hilton for breakfast. The faces sitting and eating were those of happiness, sadness, sleep deprived and longing. Tears were shed and "see you laters" were said, hugs were made and love was felt. Hearts melted and smiles tried to battle through the frowns and tears. We all wanted this to continue forever. We all became what none of us expected; Family.
All in all, I can't call this a convention. This was NOT a convention. I've been to conventions and they do not have the group feel this event had. They way this event was... it would be a SHAME to compare it to a convention. This was a family reunion. A bringing together of hearts and passion. Love and friendship. Togetherness over a common thought and feeling. No, this isn't a convention, there was too much love and caring. This... This is something I would call a family. A family I never thought I would have and a family I never want to lose.
I love all of you and don't want to lose the friendships I made. I finally feel like I belong in this community. I've finally, in all 24 years of my life feel like I have a group I can go to and actually fit in... I've never had that. I've never had such wonderful people back me up as a community. Sure, I've have friends who have my back, but not a community.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.... Every single one of you. I feel like I can do anything in life now because of all of you. Best of all, it was the anniversary weekend of me discovering mermaiding. What a great way to kick off year #4 of mermaiding. :-)
Live long and swim free, my friends!
Loves and *bubbles*
Kailani
SO! A huge thank you to ChristoMer Starfish and Mermaid Hyli to start off. I couldn't have come without their help. ^_^
Before going, I was extremely nervous and worried. I had talked to some of you online before and felt like friends, but I had never met a single one of you in person. I kept hearing about people who had met others and how great it'd be to see them again. "Great... No one will know me, and I might be that awkward acquaintance that every one is nice to out of manners and politeness. I'm going to be on the edge of all the groups of people and no one knows who I am in the community... " was going through my head. I was so excited to meet people like Hyli, Iona (Who sadly could not attend), Lanai (Who also couldn't attend), Raina, and many others that I knew would be there, but I was afraid that a few of them would brush me off because I'm such a small time mer. Boy, was I wrong.
As I sat lonely in the Hilton, Marie showed up and asked if I was there for merfest, then Echinacea and Mermaid Julz and everyone. That's it... I wasn't alone anymore. We went swimming and had a great time. I FINALLY met Meridian Mer-Gyver... It only took a 3,000 mile trip, right? Haha I felt accepted and loved all weekend. I got to hop into the hot tub next to none other than the tail man himself, Thom Shouse. Well, it can't get any worse than meeting a hero while in a bikini and he's in his swim trunks! We got talking right away, and MAN he has stories! I loved listening to all his wisdom and knowledge. He truly is an amazing man, and I look forward to time spent with him in the future! That Thursday was just a taste of what was to come.
So, Friday came about quite quickly and I got to open my AMAZING tail by Raven of Merbellas. (Unboxing video to come... It's in editing stages.) Got to swim in it with Pirate Cicero, JV, Hyli and her human. :-P Later that night was the "dreaded" mixer. I only say "dreaded" because this was the moment. This is when I'd meet everyone and find out if I belonged or not. Shyly I looked around at all the people gathered in the lobby, trying to find anyone I could talk to. I asked someone if Raina was there, and they pointed me to her. I go over, meek yet confident to introduce myself. I got to about "Hi, I'm Kai---" before I was being smushed into an enthusiastic hug. "Wow!" I thought to myself, "I didn't even get to say who I am!" That really did a lot to help me feel more relaxed around everyone. After that I felt like I could talk to anyone there. I wasn't scared anymore. (Thanks, Raina! ) The mixer was fun and awesome and great. :3
Saturday.... Man, was I tired that morning. Haha The fashion show! THAT was an experience. I had never done a catwalk or been fully painted. So. Much. New. I was terrified I'd make a fool of myself, but I didn't. Everyone was so nice and kept complimenting me and boy did I rock that birdcage! :D Once that was over, I felt SO AMAZING. Not only did I conquer the catwalk, I did it with a birdcage on my head in a dress that was trying to trip me and shoes that didn't quite fit. Haha Thank you Revonne! It was an amazing experience. Well, then it was off to the dry and wet shoot. Dry shoot was easy peasy, it was the underwater I was nervous about... Well, after some lovely help from Sean, I got in my tail and in the pool. I swam about to warm up, and got a lot of pictures and attention. Crazy cool. <3 So, once I felt ready I went over to Steve for my pictures. Boy was I nervous. After talking to him and hearing feedback and tips, I feel a lot more confident about my modelling. HUGE thank you to him. I asked him for his downright blunt opinion and what he told me made me want to cry right there I was so touched. (Great, I'm crying now. It's good, though! ) Well, I swam around and got to swim with Raina, which was really cool. Especially holding hands! I was nervous it'd throw me off, but it didn't. :-P Well, more swimming goofing off and pictures happened then it was time for the Ball... Mmmmm yummy food. :3 Dancing, singing, shenanigans and stuff happened. It was fun and great and yeah. Haha I didn't care if my legs hurt, I was gonna dance them right off! We came back to the Hilton for the after party, which was calm and fun. Really connected with Lei Loni then. ^_^ It was great.
Well, sleep came eventually and turned the night into Sunday! I dragged myself to TAC and after an hour or so finally got into my tail for more swimming and fun. I met this wonderful little girl who belongs to Kellie and let me swim with her. It was my first experience swimming with a kid! It was so magical and amazing. I got to talk to a few other kids and it was just so amazing to see their faces and you could just tell they were thinking "Wow... a REAL mermaid!" Such an amazing feeling. :3 I can't wait to do parties. Just for that look! The luau came around and talking, raffles, eating, limbo, fire eating, and hula took place. It didn't feel like the end. It was a great ending to a great weekend though. After the luau, it was back to the Hilton again! I got to make a little girl happy and swam around some more. Finally got pictures with Luma! :-P Girl, we need to majorly go swim together. Like, seriously go swim! :-P That STILL didn't feel like the end......
...Then, Monday morning. The quiet gathering at the Hilton for breakfast. The faces sitting and eating were those of happiness, sadness, sleep deprived and longing. Tears were shed and "see you laters" were said, hugs were made and love was felt. Hearts melted and smiles tried to battle through the frowns and tears. We all wanted this to continue forever. We all became what none of us expected; Family.
All in all, I can't call this a convention. This was NOT a convention. I've been to conventions and they do not have the group feel this event had. They way this event was... it would be a SHAME to compare it to a convention. This was a family reunion. A bringing together of hearts and passion. Love and friendship. Togetherness over a common thought and feeling. No, this isn't a convention, there was too much love and caring. This... This is something I would call a family. A family I never thought I would have and a family I never want to lose.
I love all of you and don't want to lose the friendships I made. I finally feel like I belong in this community. I've finally, in all 24 years of my life feel like I have a group I can go to and actually fit in... I've never had that. I've never had such wonderful people back me up as a community. Sure, I've have friends who have my back, but not a community.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.... Every single one of you. I feel like I can do anything in life now because of all of you. Best of all, it was the anniversary weekend of me discovering mermaiding. What a great way to kick off year #4 of mermaiding. :-)
Live long and swim free, my friends!
Loves and *bubbles*
Kailani