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I'm actually almost speechless about this meet.
Words can simply not express the people, the feelings and the impressions I will carry for the rest of my life.
Periandros, you, Cathy, Vanessa and Panos were incredibley hospitable, as well as all the people who staffed the meet and worked so hard to put it together. If I leave out any names please, please know that your faces and smiles will always be etched in my heart forever. Everything you all did, from the beginning Letterville announcement, to the location you chose, all activities during the meet itself, and the fantastic party and traditional dancers and dancing on the last night, everything was 5-star and perfect in everyway. Peri, I'm sorry I did'nt get to meet your mother in person and the other dancers. I was thrilled to simply be in the same building with all of you.
And Periandros, thank you again so much for the parting gift, the beautiful book about Greece. I will treasure it forever.
I would also like to mention the beautiful Alkyon hotel and it's staff, as well as the excellent food. Everything was perfectly lovely. Many thanks to them for making it such a memorable experience.
As for the Letterhead meet, it was the incredibley breathtaking experience that it was because of the wonderful Letterheads and family from all over the world who made it so.
We all fell in immediately and easily and there was never any shortage of jokes and laughter, or intense love of the trade.
I don't know who to start with so I'll try to start in order of meeting . . . and the first 'head's we met upon arrival were those crazy Scots . . .(lol
Erica and I instantly fell in love with Avril & Stewart, Lisa, Andrew, Avril's dad, Sam, and Scott Tefler and Damian McLaughlin instantly. They left such an impression on us that we said 'AYE' all the way home at every opportunity!
And also Matt Rolli (a wanna-be Scot) and special recogniton to Stewart, a wanna-be redneck...LOL -Y'ALL!!
I was thrilled to Finally meet Sonny's wife Peggy and their daughter Jess, and not be the only thick Southern accent in the crowd, LOL.
It was very exciting to finally put a face (and in some cases, proper accents) with Oakie Joe Crumley, Aussie Jon, Nancy Baudette, and Paul Preistly who told us the most interesting story about the origin of Heraldry.
Henry barker is just as aristocratic and cultured in person as his photo and deceptively quiet. He has a great sense of humor!
Then there's those Germans! Marcus and Manfred! Highly skilled in the art of signs AND humor as well! I hope your very first meet ever was awesome and not your last!
I was thrilled to get to know Mike and Ayleen. I had met Mike only breifly at Dixie, but got to know him & his wife better this week and they are such down-to-earth and fun people! Did y'all ever try the sweet corn??
I was so happy to finally meet Nancy and Noella and the freinds they brought along! I can't wait to go back through all my mags and find Noella's work again since I personally met her! Nancy is an incredible singer and musician, and is also proficient at greek dancing!! LOL!
It was a thrill and honor to meet Gary Anderson, David and Susie Butler, and Noel Webber and his wife.
Gary did a fantastic seminar on dimensional signs that opened my mind up to possibilities I had never dreamed of. Thank you so much Gary!
David and Susie are awesome people, and if David, for some crazy reason ever leaves sign biz he will be a star in no time with his wonderful sense of humor and practical joking! His sign work is absolutely beautiful and awe-inspiring. I was most fascinated with how he came to sign biz and was touched by his wonderful tribute to his mentor which he shared with us in his seminar.
Although I missed Noel's Seminar, I got a good idea of the man through his participation in the traditional Greek dancing. His interpretations brought lumps to our throat. At first all our dancing was only funny and hilarious, but it easly became second nature to many of us. It seemed to be for many of us the dancing was simply another mode of expressing the artist within us all.
I know there's so many people and things I'm not mentioning, but there was so much happening...and every one of you still mean so much. Signs are the core topic of a meet but the whole thing is wrapped & saturated with the beautiful diversity each person brings to event. The entire week was like a dream and I can't wait to return to the beautiful country of Greece!!!!
Thank you again Periandros for bringing all of the people together and making all of this happen!!!!!
Love always, Sheila & Erica
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. (Edited to correct spelling of two names and about 8 words. Please forgive if I've still spelled your name wrong.)
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Sheila, I am so glad you got to break free and go continent-hopping. It changed my life when I did it. I flew for the first time at the age of 41. (to the Cork meet, where I met Peri and Vanessa!) You might get addicted to travel! In the past two years I think I've flown 20 times. Peri, you did a swell job. You look so tired in those pictures tho. Please take good care of yourself and get some much-needed rest. Hats off to you my friend, you are a true gentleman with a lovely family. It looks like a fine time was had by all. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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There's absolutely no way to describe all of the events of this past week. Peri hosted an incredible meet and as always, the people make the meet. Letterheads is truly going international, with Stewart's meet scheduled for May in Scotland and Manfred and Marcus pumped to have one in Germany. Meets usually take on the personality of the host, and this was no exception. Peri was well-organized (you should see this guy's shop - WOW) the "forest" was a wonderful location, and I've never laughed so hard when the dancing started Saturday night.
I'm sitting here trying to get back to work, but it's hard when Monday night I was passing a bottle of Retsina around on the roof of our hotel with Joe Crumley, Nancy and Annette Bennett, Doc and Nurse Welty, and Lucy and Noel Weber, basking in the glow of the Acropolis.
I'll be sending some pictures around soon, but for just a taste, check out David Butler and Noel Weber's Greek dancing moves.......
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What a terrific meet! Sheila, you have a great voice. What a husky sexy, southern sound! It was a pleasure meeting you and your beautiful daughter. Peri, Kathy and staff put on a fabulous meet. The experiences that we enjoyed were truly extraordinary! The wedding, the beach, the Greek music and dancing, the history, the Parthenon, the shopping, the food, the Ouzo, the tours, the canal, the boat ride, the Poseidon temple were all the "extras" we enjoyed in addition to the panels, murals and workshops. But daughter Annette summed it up best when she observed, "Mom, you have a great group of friends."
-------------------- Nancy B. Bennett Walldog Public Art 317 N. 13th St. Centerville, Iowa 52544 Posts: 95 | From: Centerville, IA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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itīs a perfect report from Sheila, thank you very much. I cannot add something, i can only confirm your feeling. Be sure, this was not our last meeting, we canīt wait for the next. Hope the time between is not so long. We miss you all!!!
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Thanks for the report from Greece, Sheila. It appears we all missed a great meet. I will NOT be missing the next one in Scotland in May, 2006!! On another note, just wondered if all the letterheads who attended the meet are back home safely? I just heard about the plane crash in Greece. Paul Priestley and anyone else still there, please check in. Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Just got home from Illinois...locked the back door oh boy...oh sorry...yeah we did get home just before midnight (Saturday) so...well...we'll check back as soon as we gather ourselves up...weeeeewhoooo!!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- david butler butler signs syracuse,indiana david@davidbutler.com Posts: 188 | From: syracuse,indiana,usa | Registered: Feb 1999
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Judy, this was a Helios Airways flight headed from Larnaca, Cyprus to Athens. I feel sure Paul & his wife (and others who may still be there) will be flying Olympic to London.
Still, this news is disheartening even tho' we may not personally know anyone on the flight. Please take time for a moment of silence or to speak a prayer for those suffering.
Also, Erica gave me this news flash yesterday: Several thousand people may be still stranded in London airports due to the pull-out of an entire airline earlier this week!
Please think of those who might be stranded or seriously delayed by this situation. We also just heard that Steve Shortreed, our Letterville mayor has to go to London for adjustments pertaining to his defribulator. Let's all hope and pray for the safety of all!!
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
(((----Photo not coming likness is close enough
Got Baack at 3 am Monday. Can't really add more, Shiela said it all We had a great time I think its been the best meet yet for seminars, left me with a lot to think about. My only regret is that we were outside when Paul Priestly danced on the table , anyone got a pic ? I always find it strange how you do so much and meet so many people at a meet only to go home read the posts and find you missed so much. As Always I got so much out of the weekend, Thanks to Peri and his team Cheers Terry and gang
-------------------- Terry Colley The VintageSign Co 42 barrack hill Romiley Stockport Cheshire, England sk6 3az tel 0161 494 5089 terry@bullandbrush.fsnet.co.uk Posts: 210 | From: England | Registered: Dec 1999
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