Meet Princess Snowflake of the Ozarks!

Princess Snowflake of the Ozarks
aka Vicki Ross, as determined by Princess PammyDee

I was presented a tiara a week or so ago, and proclaimed Princess Snowflake of the Ozarks...PSO (pronounced 'SO')

SO, I love that I am of the age depicted in the poem by Jenny Joseph (read below). Little girls stared at my tiara with jealousy, old women hiding their stares behind the desire to be free to act silly, Randy just shaking his head in amazement. Pam (the head tiara designer) was after a Wicki-grin, and she got one!

Good news! And more Smiling! The "Over and Over Again" Hatchfund.org campaign reached its goal and FUNDED! As a reward, they gifted me another 30 days. SO, I'll receive the big check next week, and a weekly check thereafter for anything that comes in after the Feb. 18 deadline. 100%. ALL of it! 

SO, I am giddy with completion today! And very aware of what I learned and relearned:

• I have worked with computers, internet coding, software, since 1986. There is still a lot of enjoyment for me being on the cutting edge of technology...both in hardware (new iPad? new MacBook Pro?) and software and in social media marketing. OF COURSE Wicki would be one of the first of her peeps to try the so-called 'crowdfunding' platform. Relatively new, and first adopted a couple years ago by the 24-40 demographics, funding inventions for manufacturing (Pebble Watch?), performing arts (New York City Ballet?), athletes (Lindsey Von? Jamaica Bobsled?), and a myriad of health related causes. Amazing how ordinary people with an extra dollar or two can make a difference to another human when combined and everyone works together. Those of us who might not ever have the philanthropic ability of a Bill Gates can STILL make a difference!
  Hatchfund itself is fairly new in its current iteration. You can read their history on their site...no sense saying it again...AND, their partnership with the Arkansas Arts Council gave them credibility over all the other sites of this type. Curated, personal coaching, and just for artists.

• AND, they under-promised and over-delivered.

• Speaking of specifics 
  • Risk 1: Afraid of using credit cards on the internet. Really? Safer than at the mall or Target! Thanks to the donations that were mailed in by check...muah!
  • Risk 2: OMG, I don't click on links. Well, either get over that, buy a mac (safer), or go back to the library because links are the very backbone of the internet.
  • Risk 3: What are links? Well, if you see type in a different color, there's a clue. Or hover your mouse over an image and it will get a border or change color...another clue. Experiment! Take a risk!
  • Risk 4: OF COURSE there is a risk in donating to something you don't understand. Do like I do, research, then trust that Arkansas Arts Council (and all the other participating foundations) would have vetted Hatchfund WAY before partnering with them...and then, relax that WICKI has over-researched anything that will require so much of her time to develop.
  • Risk 5: What if the project doesn't fund? What if it does? You'll get your perk, sus (susprise), gift, whatever. Yeah, there was a real risk I wouldn't fund. Over my dead body! And that of some very good friends! Even if it didn't make, the funds donated to me would go into an account for matching funds awards to other artists. I earned my $500 from Hatchfund's endowment which was 20% of my fund.
  • Risk 6: This is a good one. Truth! Someone actually asked me "what do I get out of it...how do I get some of the money". Answer: Nevermind. I lack the words to explain this. Wicki rendered speechless. Sad.

Many lessons were learned during this campaign:

• I made several new friends. Yes, the social media kind, who are sometimes more empathetic to each other than real friends in person. Some of those I've talked to on the phone. Some anonymous (love you too), and some who donated simply because my campaign created a warm fuzzy in their soul (and relief it wasn't their story). 
• Even though our personal funds are nothing from time to time, I experience that warm fuzzy when I make $1 or $5 donations to campaigns I relate to. I got some of those $1 to $5 donations...and can tell you that they elicit the EXACT SAME SMILE. I won't remember the amount, but I WILL remember your name! 
• Yes, I lost some 'friends'. Personal and social media ones. I remember those names too. Does it hurt? Yes. Did I bore you, probably. Did I make you feel guilty? too bad. Were you embarrassed that a $1 donation 'wouldn't look like enough'? Really? These types of campaigns are not about you, but the person willing to design the campaign. 
  Get over it...I have more than expanded my universe...and as always, will share all I learn 'out there'. So I say, welcome new friends, and so long old friends. I'll miss you, but wish you well.
• Anything worth doing requires effort. If anyone reading this is curious about doing their own campaign, contact me. I'll share freely what I did. Like I told my coach, Erin, today, I may not have chosen the right words or the right avenues for my messages, but I worked this campaign for several hours a day, every day. And I'm proud of that!

Do I wear Purple? Royal Purple with my flaming red hair?  Is the Pope Catholic? Do I sit on the curb and spit? Not so much because it is a struggle to get up. Will I wear my pSO crown in public? ABSOLUTELY. Am I sorry I did this campaign and irritated some folks? ABSOLUTELY NOT because my story gave others the courage to keep going tomorrow morning. And, yes, I quit wearing the mask of makeup. And don't miss it one bit!

xxoo

Vicki
aka: Red, pSO, Wicki, Victoria

A personal favorite...created for the campaign. Ummm, Wicki? That is a yama (sic), not a camel. 

Note: Don't take yourself so seriously!

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me,
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals,
and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired,
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells,
And run my stick along the public railings,
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens,
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat,
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go,
Or only bread and pickle for a week,
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats
and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
And pay our rent and not swear in the street,
And set a good example for the children.
We will have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised,
When suddenly I am old
and start to wear purple!

...Jenny Joseph