The Juice Box

Sanctified

Posted on July 1st, 2007 by Jim.
Categories: Uncategorized.

Recently, I had what I will now consider my most amazing flagging experience, and I believe it is worthy of sharing with the tribe. Sunday, January 14, was the “Sanctuary and Sweat” party for Martin Luther King weekend in San Francisco. I headed out that night with a set of flags in my bag to return to Dr. K (from New Year’s Day Recovery Party) and a few other sets to be given out as late Christmas gifts. Additionally, I was carrying a couple sets, just in case I felt moved to give a piece of myself to someone to keep.

I arrived at Sanctuary, just coming from the Fresh T-Dance, and feeling pretty good. I was ready to let the fun ride on. I gave a couple sets (the late Christmas gifts) out to my friends Bob and John, and returned Dr. K’s set to him. It was a good thing and I was feeling a lot of good energy.

I flagged a bit, and was basically enjoying myself and when I took a break, I met a handsome and friendly flagger from Denver, Brent, that asked to borrow some flags and have some fun. I agreed and let him use my Solar Flair set. It was fun to watch them fly, as they have a great strobe effect because of how I used some Scarlet Red dye (thanks Phillip) to create a black drop out in black light. Brent was spinning away and when he came back to hand me the flags, and talk about where he was from and such, something came over me (probably his adorable smile) and I told him to keep the flags and take a piece of my art home to Denver.

Continuing on through the night, another friend who flags, Seth came up to me and asked about trying a set of flags (I thought the flags I found in my bag at the Recovery Party belonged to him). I lent him my Kaleidoscope flags and watched him go. He is so cute when he flags, with a smile from ear to ear. Well, I talked to him about getting together to make some flags and such, and said that he could keep the Kaleidoscope flags, andl he was really surprised, as this turned out to be his very first set of silk flags.

Mission accomplished, Juicy Fruit had spread enough MLK freedom and joy for the night. So as it was now around midnight, and I was dancing more than flagging, I looked up to the flagging stage, and to my own amazement, every flag in flight was something I created.

I was overwhelmed, close to the point of tears. It was such a great feeling. I continued to dance, saying, “wow – those are all my flags”. The waves of emotion flowed over me; I was flying with them and feeling so amazed for what I was seeing. Truly a special moment, and I believe I felt like a mother possibly feels as her child takes a first step. I was honored to see my creations creating a show for people and delivering fun to those using them.

So, to top it off, I shared this story with my good friends Phillip, Daniel and Randy. Randy wrote back to me, saying that although he had not gone out that night, he was flagging in his newly remodeled kitchen, with black lights and music going. And right around that midnight-to-1:00am time frame, that same night…guess what, he was flying my flags.

So, it seems that I sanctified the night.

Who knows why random acts come together, but I truly believe, that this will for a long time be my all-time most amazing flagging experience.

I hope you enjoyed reading about it, as much as I enjoyed it happening and reliving it.