The Tapestry

I have often thought of the Center as an umbrella that gives us a place to participate in a vast variety of fun, friendship and support. I've been thinking that an umbrella seems too connected and too uniform to be a good descriptor. Here are some thoughts about the people of the Center as a tapestry.

What does my strand look like? I arrived in Seattle six years ago. I had heard of the Center during my straight veggie oil RV travels with my husband and our children. I was very excited when a friend brought me the first time. I became a watcher. This was back in the days of Grind on Thursday and Pan parties on Saturday. I came, I danced, I grew a few roots. The following year I met a new playmate and started having sex at events (yes, that really took me an entire year!). My thread grew stronger and connected to a few more people.

About four and a half years ago I sat down at a table with some friends and discovered I had just joined a planning meeting for the first Wednesday party. Three weeks later I had a key to the building and was running Humps. (Yes, I did get my cashier training in there somewhere.) I became a co-lead of Hump, some small part of the structure of the Tapestry. At the same time, I started exploring BDSM kink and my thread spread out a bit into other parts of the Tapestry. The Center's calendar grew broader. More and more events were created by volunteers interested in those events.

I had opportunities to support events like Midori's Bang 4 the Buck and Poly-Strip. I started working behind the scenes making calendar and homepage updates. Eventually, the web team managed to develop a site that used Google Calendar. This week Jamie Gordon and I deployed the latest web site.

About 5 years ago, Allena Gabosh, our Executive Director, was challenged by a member that his sexuality wasn't supported by the Center. Nearly all events at the time forbid self-touch (masturbation) or relegated it to a closet. She recognized the truth in this and Myself was created. I took over as lead of Myself three years ago. I love a good cock fest! Although I rarely masturbate there, I love the event, the wonderful, sexy honest energy it generates. I have rarely seen women so well adored as at Myself.

That's just my thread...deeply connected in volunteering and running events, occasionally dropping in for some fun or a bit of service topping. Achy and needy sometimes for things that I don't make the time to do.

Perhaps you are among the fibers at the center of the Tapestry, strong and resilient. You give all you can to make this a place where your dreams can come true.

Perhaps you feel like a fringe, not sure if you really belong, only the slightest bit connected. I hope we gave each other a chance.

Perhaps you are a sparkle on the ocean, a highlight. You may only come through the door on occasion. I hope you will still recognize yourself as a bit of the beauty of the tapestry. Fifteen thousand individuals have joined the Center. The Center has room for nearly all of them to discover more about themselves and make contributions if they choose.

Perhaps today you have no idea what you might be. I hope you will keep coming around and find out!