Here we are at the end of the eighteenth age of the Fairelands. I always arrive at this moment not knowing how exactly I got here. It feels like just a few days have passed since Alia and I began talking about what message we wanted this year’s poster to express. Usually I come to him with some vague feeling that I want to share and he manages to make that feeling tangible in graphic form. This year was different. I had a very strong image of what I wanted the poster to capture. I saw a roaring bonfire blazing against an ink black night full of malevolence. Gathered around the fire was a collection of Fairelanders of all shapes, sizes, species and colors. Even though dark shadows seemed to threaten from all directions, the assembled group was not huddled in fear. They were jubilant. The camaraderie between everyone was palpable, the glow from the fire reflecting off smiles that grew with each new arrival who stepped from the ominous gloom into the light.
As sparks exploded off the roaring logs, shooting into the sky like stars, the stories started. Stories of what had passed in the months without the Fairelands. Dreams of the adventures that lay ahead in the coming days. People embraced and comforted each other remembering those that were no longer with us. And always there was the warmth of acceptance and shared belief that as bad as things might get beyond the reaches of the firelight, having braved the darkness to be together, the strength we gained from being a part of this community would help sustain us until the dawn. I shared all of this with Alia and as he always does, he was able to turn my vision into a memory for all of us.
We are standing on Junction waiting for the Mists to roll in and take back the Fairelands for another season. We will scatter and go our own ways but having spent the last weeks together hopefully we will know we are not alone in this world or any other. That there is always a Fairelander to call on in times of fear, loneliness, or sadness just as there are when we have joy, excitement and hope to share. Thank you for another remarkable year. It always feels like it takes forever to get here and then it disappears much too fast, but that is how time works with all good things. I need no other proof to know that Fantasy Faire and the Fairelander community is one of the best things I have ever been a part of.
And of course there are the final numbers. We raised over 96,000usd this year or 24 million lindens. Given the current global economy I was optimistically hoping for 72,000usd or 18 million lindens. Again, against all odds you as Fairelanders stood up and let the Unweaver know in no uncertain terms that even when times are tough, Fairelanders never back down!
Go forth Fairelanders! Ignite and Faire on!
Elizabeth aka Fantasy
Fantasy Faire 