Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 08:56:22 -0800
From: Eros Publishing <aubrey@wolfenet.com>
Subject: Letter To The Editor

Once upon a time...
The concepts of being, growing and belonging got rewritten in my life.

On the job of rebuilding my life from ground zero, I've learned to free 
myself and make friends, who took me in their lives with open arms.
At first I tried to be like them, and they reminded me to be myself.
Then I tried to be like everybody else in "The Community", and found
myself. Now lots and lots of you had demonstrated to me that, as I
previously found out, I am not like my friends, or like everybody else
in the community. I am part of them! We belong to each other like
a community, like a family.

I want to thank the ones who worked directly at the Seattle Mr. Leather 1997 
contest, from the very beginning. Dan "Puppy" Daniels, John Sedgwick 
and Greta S. from GLPW, the dynamic duo Lenny Broberg and Toni James,
The Clan of the Laughing Otter, Scott Rodriguez and The Cuff, mi mama
Allena Gabosch, Denise, always there Billy Lane, great hugs and great stage
Mikhail, our hosts from Neighbours and Steve Tracy, gracias Dana,
thanks for the spot Ice, Lauri and Michael you two always great with
drapes, my Granddad Sheldon, Misha, T.K., Vince Sharkey Mr. Washington
State Leather '96, always involved and motivated co-producer Dave Lewis 
and Paul Best, the supercalifrastic team of ASL interpreters Ted Hinkey, 
Steve Spencer, and Gabriel Majors, the great runners Steve Campbell,
Brian Ewing, and "Boy" Mike, Marc Mead and of course The
Border Riders Motorcycle Club for security.

And beary special hugs to Hobbit, Washington State Ms. Leather '96; 
Dragon Xcalibur, Shane my twin, Agnes my boss, Vicente my warrior, 
Aubrey Hart Sparks and the ones responsible for my next 360 something 
days of oohs and aahs, the panel of judges: Todd Nelson, Intl. BootBlack '96;
Daniel Sonnenfeld, Intl. Mr. Deaf Leather '96; Tony DeBlase, Leather
Archives founder; Scott Smithson, Seattle Mr. Leather '96; Lamar Van Dyke,
owner of Tattoo You; Todd Arehart, Mr. NW Drummer '92; Spencer Bergstedt,
Treasurer NLA International; and Rich Villegracia, Mr. Vulcan Rubber.

Thanks to the ones who were there to show your support to the
community, our Leather Community, either in English or Spanish.

We have a family, let's build our home!

Muchas Gracias,

Jose Martin Garcia Ordu~na
Seattle Mr. Leather 1997