I'm sure many of you have heard it over and over that NEST started over 10 years ago with a small gathering of 8 shy men who got together at my apartment in Philly. I was amazed that one of them would actually fly in from Texas to attend this informal gathering. I warned him on the phone that it's just gonna be a couple of guys hanging out, watching vids, sharing experiences and trading stuff, but he told me that he would fly anywhere for that. He hasn't missed any since, unless he had a work conflict that year.
The idea started when my longtime friend, Pete, and I thought it would be cool to put something like this together. For your info, Pete was literally the first guy to sell tickling videos anywhere for our Community. He had 8mm films made and then transferred to video. So the 2 of us had been active in the Network for a while before we came upon this idea.
The first NEST also had "welcome packets". I might have mine in the bottom of a drawer somewhere.
Since then, we saw the increased attendence of women (LeeAllure has been to every NEST except that first one), couples, prizes, contests, one year we were all "ordained" as ministers into the World Ministry of Eternal Laughter. Our guestlist had many well-known people from the Community including Bob O'Hare, the guy who started all the tickling newsgroups, Kurt Jellenick, DVNC and Jan who had the first Gatherings ever that started in CA, Morandilas who, as we all know, started MTJ Publishing the most successful tickling comics in TK History, Jeff from Magic Touch (and our Fearless Leader), Shem the Penman, and so many other writers and video producers that I am afraid to leave any one out.
After the 2000 NEST (which I called YTK) with 55 people, I felt we needed to get out of my 1 bedroom apartment (okay it was a huge apartment) and get an outside venue.
It has gotten better and better each year. So many people praise the event after that even I get wonder what is it that we have been doing that makes everyone feel so good.
Feel so good. I like those words.
Why has it been so important for our Community that those of us who have put it together lost tons of money and time just to get it launched each year?
I know where your head is at, those of you who have never attended. Believe me. Sharing my feelings and thoughts and actions about Tickling wasn't easy. I was even embarrassed to say the 'word' in front of people. It's still not an easy topic to discuss with Vanilla friends. I am still embarrassed. However, once you get together with another who shares these feelings something happens that's unexplainable. Suddenly, you can breathe. Suddenly, the fear and embarrassment goes away. It's incredible. I don't know why, but it DOES. It's worth it just to feel that!
So talking about it with 7 other guys was the easiest thing I ever did, until the next year when it was 15, then 30, then 50, then 80, then...
Starting to get it? It's not about hooking up, finding your Soulmate. You start to realize that we are ALL your Soulmates. People of every age speak as if they are the best of friends. Forever friends are made.
It's freakin' nuts!
If you are new to all this, take a breath. No, really, right now, take a breath. Relax. Don't be intimidated by things you hear about kidnappings and St. Andrews crosses and Tickling Machine contests. It's all very overwhelming. Forget it. It's nothing. You can just sit there and do nothing and be happier than you have been in years and maybe your whole life. It's all about energy, feeling accepted, feeling normal, and being loved for who and what you are. Ain't that the weirdest thing you ever heard?
If any of you brave enough to accept a weekend of Happiness feels at all strange during your time at NEST, come over and talk to me. I'll be there for you. I'll tell you about how I felt and I'll take away your doubt. I promise. I know what it's like. I'll remind you what's important.
One time, someone came up to me, feeling shy and inhibited. I smiled and told her to simply look around and listen. We sat there and heard the music of laughter EVERYWHERE. We saw everyone smiling. We saw it all and she totally got it. It was about all that.
I can't wait to see my friends again. All of you. That's why I love NEST. It's not the games we plan, the workshops, the contests. It's the friends; the friendship.
And after all, isn't that what everything's about?
Thanks for listening. I'll see you there.
Max
The idea started when my longtime friend, Pete, and I thought it would be cool to put something like this together. For your info, Pete was literally the first guy to sell tickling videos anywhere for our Community. He had 8mm films made and then transferred to video. So the 2 of us had been active in the Network for a while before we came upon this idea.
The first NEST also had "welcome packets". I might have mine in the bottom of a drawer somewhere.
Since then, we saw the increased attendence of women (LeeAllure has been to every NEST except that first one), couples, prizes, contests, one year we were all "ordained" as ministers into the World Ministry of Eternal Laughter. Our guestlist had many well-known people from the Community including Bob O'Hare, the guy who started all the tickling newsgroups, Kurt Jellenick, DVNC and Jan who had the first Gatherings ever that started in CA, Morandilas who, as we all know, started MTJ Publishing the most successful tickling comics in TK History, Jeff from Magic Touch (and our Fearless Leader), Shem the Penman, and so many other writers and video producers that I am afraid to leave any one out.
After the 2000 NEST (which I called YTK) with 55 people, I felt we needed to get out of my 1 bedroom apartment (okay it was a huge apartment) and get an outside venue.
It has gotten better and better each year. So many people praise the event after that even I get wonder what is it that we have been doing that makes everyone feel so good.
Feel so good. I like those words.
Why has it been so important for our Community that those of us who have put it together lost tons of money and time just to get it launched each year?
I know where your head is at, those of you who have never attended. Believe me. Sharing my feelings and thoughts and actions about Tickling wasn't easy. I was even embarrassed to say the 'word' in front of people. It's still not an easy topic to discuss with Vanilla friends. I am still embarrassed. However, once you get together with another who shares these feelings something happens that's unexplainable. Suddenly, you can breathe. Suddenly, the fear and embarrassment goes away. It's incredible. I don't know why, but it DOES. It's worth it just to feel that!
So talking about it with 7 other guys was the easiest thing I ever did, until the next year when it was 15, then 30, then 50, then 80, then...
Starting to get it? It's not about hooking up, finding your Soulmate. You start to realize that we are ALL your Soulmates. People of every age speak as if they are the best of friends. Forever friends are made.
It's freakin' nuts!
If you are new to all this, take a breath. No, really, right now, take a breath. Relax. Don't be intimidated by things you hear about kidnappings and St. Andrews crosses and Tickling Machine contests. It's all very overwhelming. Forget it. It's nothing. You can just sit there and do nothing and be happier than you have been in years and maybe your whole life. It's all about energy, feeling accepted, feeling normal, and being loved for who and what you are. Ain't that the weirdest thing you ever heard?
If any of you brave enough to accept a weekend of Happiness feels at all strange during your time at NEST, come over and talk to me. I'll be there for you. I'll tell you about how I felt and I'll take away your doubt. I promise. I know what it's like. I'll remind you what's important.
One time, someone came up to me, feeling shy and inhibited. I smiled and told her to simply look around and listen. We sat there and heard the music of laughter EVERYWHERE. We saw everyone smiling. We saw it all and she totally got it. It was about all that.
I can't wait to see my friends again. All of you. That's why I love NEST. It's not the games we plan, the workshops, the contests. It's the friends; the friendship.
And after all, isn't that what everything's about?
Thanks for listening. I'll see you there.
Max
^__^
Just be sure to fall in when the General calls for attention Ann. 
