Post #696640 by Psycho Tiki D on Fri, Oct 18, 2013 9:45 AM

Wendy and Dan.

Not too often do I come on and post on TC threads anymore but your actions, efforts and words make it too difficult not to post. I am a very lucky person to have become friends with so many who share the same passion for Tiki that I do. I am humbled by the thoughtfullness of our Ohana and for the wonderful Tiki Bob mug you made for me. You are the greatest hands-down.

Our very first attempt at a Sacramento get together was back on December 10, 2006. Wendy, you are correct, this would be eight years of celebrating our local embrace of sharing our homes and our collections with our community.

Through a series of emails our first gathering was born. moondog426 was the one who originally posted the thread for the first meet-up, Sacramento Day December 10, 2006:

I was brand new to collecting Tiki at the time and was eager to meet those of like mind.

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=21867&forum=17&hilite=Sacramento Day

Many of the original attendees have hosted and/or attended over the years-

Dave and Eva, Brad and Melanie, Ken and Beth, Mike and Alia and Brooke.

This has grown from a one afternoon/evening event to a full blown three day extravaganza and over the years we have had the pleasure of viewing and sharing so many wonderful spaces.

In 2010 I approached Wendy Cevola, whom I considered a treasure, not only for the massive and impressive collection she and Dan had amassed, but because of her incredible talent as an artist and I asked if she would be willing to create a mug for our crawl. I had no idea what it took to make a mug and little did I know what I was asking. If you have followed this thread from the start, you will see the result of Wendy's creativy since she began making our crawl mugs, which incidently has been done for the past four years. Not that Wendy wasn't making Tiki sculpts before this...Dan's collection has many unique one-of-a-kind items made long before Wendy started making our crawl mugs (which is why I thought it would be so easy for Wendy to make us a mug)!

After a six year run of organizing the local event, I felt it was time to hand off the mantle to someone else. Fortunately for our local Ohana, Marelene took up the torch and has expanded and improved this event and for this I am truly grateful, not only that Marlene took charge, but that it continued on.

So I was very humbled last Saturday night when I attend the crawl for the first time in two years. At Matt and Melody's house I was presented the mug Wendy made for me along with a copy of a Minnie's menu signed by the guests who attended this years crawl with well wishes and warm thoughts.

I want to express my appreciation to everyone who has attended or hosted our local event from the inception through this year and beyond. We have always been able to rely upon our local Ohana to come through with specatacular showcasing, some pretty incredible shows and of course, tasty food and drink for the guests. Mahalos to you all.

And it might seem it goes without saying, but I cannot thank Wendy, Dan or Marlene enough for all they have done to contribute to our Ohana and these events. You are very special people in my and I cherish being able to call you my friends!

Aloha,

Pyscho Tiki D