The Final Flight Roundup

So it's been more than a month since the end of the Final Flight... and I'm still in recovery mode.  Granted - we were working extended hours at work - and this fell right in the middle of it - but I'm still cleaning up the aftermath.  And then to add to my pile - I've been down and out sick for more than 10 days.  But with the help of my fourteen year old son - I'm beginning to see the day light.

First and foremost - I have to say how overwhelmingly humbled I am that so many came to Maine in January for what was our final LLBean event.  And while many bemoaned the demise of the event - it was the final event.  I has run its course - we have run out of themes that work for this kind of event - and to think - it started out as a whim.  An over the top suggestion from a fellow boxer.  And its been six years over overnight boxing craziness.

So many memories that were made possible by the letterboxing community as a whole - because I certainly couldn't have done this by myself.  Of course, I would have never even made it through the first year - let alone the fifth - without Amber (Teacup) being by my side and telling me what I've missed and catching all those details.  Helping me put out boxes that eight hours later we had to pull in the wee small hours while most people slept, due to the event being in a retail setting.  She kept track of hundreds of stamps that were mailed from all corners of the US - so many carvers have contributed over the years - and she had to keep all the series in order.  Not a small feat.  She really was the backbone to the event - I was merely the face.  So to her - I can never say thank you enough.

And there have been others through the years who have stood by us and offered assistance as we've needed it.  Susan, Ray and Heather (HappyDaze and Nittany) have managed the force that was the pre-gather for five years.  They not only managed it - but turned it into an annual event in itself that so many looked forward to.  And while things that happened there - hopefully stayed there - they too offered their time and energy to keep one piece of the bigger pie successful.  Again - a heartfelt thank you to all three of them for sticking by me during this crazy event.

I would be remiss if I didn't give thanks to Nany and Doug (Angel Treads) who stepped up this past year and helped host a second pre-gather because so many folks decided to attend this event this year.  And along the way there have been others, who stepped up to provide support, carve the event stamps and make pathtags.  Mainekokopellian, Crafty Lobster, foraych, Gargoyle Girl, Alisha Misha, Irelander and so many others.  All of your generosity of time and talent made me look good as an event organizer.  I was honored to showcase your art for others to share and see.  And grateful for time given to plant and collect stamps after the event was over.

Then there are the hundreds of carvers that sent your talent to Maine for these crazy events.  Your generosity is so appreciated and everyone enjoyed finding all of the treasures you have sent over the years.  Too many too many to thank - I wouldn't even know where to start - but believe me when I say - you provided so many hours of pure inky goodness to my event that was measured by the hundreds, thousands of positive comments left by everyone that found your tiny pieces of art over the years.

And then a special thanks to everyone that has attend these events over the past 6 years.  They required a leap of faith for most of you as this kind of event had never been done before.  And we have had some crazy moments.  From battling sub-zero temperatures to folks carting boxes away and putting them back just far enough away from their original location that at 4am made finding them pretty challenging.  Snacks were shared - OMG those cranberry bars!!! - and exchanges made.  People came from near (Because why on earth would you travel hundreds and thousands of miles to stamp up at 2am???) and farther that I would have imagined!  Traveling has been challenging - driving in sheeting rain, sliding off runways at the airport, and navigating through blinding snow... yet you kept coming back.

I have to admit - having so many folks return year after year is a bit of an ego boost.  That you came and had a great time - even better.  But along the way - there have been challenges.  This year more than any other.  An added dimension - trying to block rooms at the Comfort Suites for those attending - turned into my own private hell at times.  And there were moments when I wanted to scrap it completely.  But through the good fortune of finding a couple people at the hotel who were willing to step up and actually manage sorting through the mess - it all worked out in the end.  And from what I've been told (as I came home and slept in my own bed) it was its own round the clock event!  People were crawling around the hallways at all hours collecting stamps that folks brought in from all over the US to share with their new found friends.

The hotel piece was an unexpected success that I was amazed actually fell into place.  The staff there stepped up and gave us free reign and we did managed to make use of every nook and cranny of the halls, rooms and common areas.  People could get some sleep (at least I think some folks slept - others I'm not so sure) while others - working on ink fumes, stamped up images from event boxes, postals, and mystery boxes throughout the night.  There was plenty of ink to be had at the hotel alone - that some folks never even made it to the actual event - but just stayed at the hotel and enjoyed that!

But along with all of the good times, there were some bad ones.  Broken boxes planted by a fellow boxer was probably the biggest surprise.  I'm not sure why - any boxer would just break a box to get into a stamp - that was clearly meant to be a challenge and not just a grab and go.  We try to say - not every box is for every boxer.  I even had to pass on one of those boxes because my brain was toast.  I would have loved the image - but it was more than I could handle (Thanks for the assist to get the two I did get!) and I knew to move on.  There was more than enough out for people to get that breaking someone else's box is inexcusable.  It goes beyond anything and any realms of respect that I even understand.  And all I can say to RIClimber - whose box was destroyed in the process of the hunt - I'm truly sorry that someone did this.  I appreciated the effort you made to create the challenge - as there are those folks that love those challenges, and I hope that you continue to create them in the future.

There has also been talk - e-mails sent - and personal confrontational attacks about the fact that I am single-handedly destroying letterboxing with my events.  Now mind you - from the onset, I never billed this event as a traditional letterboxing event.  It's been held in a retail store.  We were looking for stamps following clues - in a STORE - in the middle of the night.  And yes - we put stamps out and a few hours later we pull them.  We do write clues - people do have to go find them - but they are not on a traditional trail out in the woods... mainly because the trails in Maine in January are covered in FEET of snow.  I put out these disclaimers knowing that these events were not meant for everyone.  I did try to accommodate as many people as possible over the years - adding variety with mystery clues, drive-by series and this year - trail series.  Knowing that everyone wanted a different experience.  And trying to give everyone something that they can enjoy is not easy.  But to say I'm trying to destroy the hobby - is not true.  I'm an event planner by trade.  So I know that to make an event successful - you need to be as diverse as possible while still maintaining the core of the event.

But to send vicious e-mails and to confront us at another event - and then have the gaul to ask if there were any boxes still left out after we "tossed out boxes only to pick them up 3 hours later" is unbelievable.  I didn't say anything at the event - mine or the one I attended - but just to clarify - it is NOT acceptable to trash an event organizer and her committee and then EXPECT to be able to swoop in and get the traditionals left out after the event.  I did try and blacklist this person from my plants - as the only ones left are my plants, but I was told that other than actually going in and putting up restrictions that would preclude her from getting my boxes - there wasn't anyway to prevent her from getting them.  And because I want the rest of the community to be able to find them without having to leap through restrictions... I've left them.

Mind you - I have no respect for the boxer that seems to think trash talking another boxer is okay to do… and while I'd love to call her out publicly - I have too much respect for the hobby to not do that.  Others probably hold this person in high regards - which is your right.  But when I say - creating a large event - even an untraditional one - has its challenges - dealing with negative people is certainly among the reasons I'm kind of glad these events are over.

I love to create events.  I love to write clues, gather fabulous art from other folks and share them on a platform that others can enjoy them as well.  I love being able to be around like minded individuals and enjoy getting together for companionship and fun.  But I do not like being attacked publicly and privately by someone who has done nothing but be a self-serving member of this community.  These events take more time that most people realize.  They have put strains on my friendship with Amber and others, some completely disassociating themselves from the hobby completely.  It's hard to organize successful events without having fallout.  But it is the fallout that has me making my final statement.

While I have enjoyed hosting numerous events over the years - I will be hosting my last event next year with the library event.  It is clear - that my time hosting has run its course.  It is time for someone else to step up and put their spin on this hobby.  So yes - there will not be another event In Freeport in January, I will also host my final event next year at my library - as that too has run its course.

It's been fun, I've met some incredible people, but I've also seen some of the worst of people.  And if I contributed to that - I'm truly sorry.  To those that have enjoyed my events - I thank you.  To those that have supported me and my events - I am forever grateful.  To the new friends I have made over the years - I cherish our new found friendships.  But for any part of the hobby that I have 'destroyed' in anyone's eyes - I'm am extremely sorry.  Its not always easy - but I do try to uphold what is the best of letterboxing - at least the way I see it.  God speed and my you have nothing but success on every hunt you take in the future.  Kathleen aka. mudflinginfools