I was extremely tempted by the idea of possibly being able to attend Bmefest 2004 in Toronto this year, however, being fairly new to the body modification community compared to others, I was a bit timid and hesitant about actually attending this large of a event. So, although I yearned to attend this event, I shoved it into the back of my mind and decided to wait until next year to go (or so I thought).
At A Glance Author Dawn Contact Dawn@bme.anon IAM Dawnie When It just happened Chatting away on the IAM community is something I do quite frequently. So, not unlike many other nights, I was sitting at my lovely computer and sending random messages to friends and updating my page as usual. My message box light began to blink, and I clicked on it, to discover a lovely last minute invite to car-pool from Toledo, Ohio to Toronto for Bmefest 2004! I hesitated before replying, mainly because of the fact that it was all ready the Wednesday night before the Friday of Bmefest, and I was scheduled to work that Friday afternoon. I also contemplated not going due to not knowing many people who were going to be attending personally, I was also not sure I could enter Canada without a passport (I later discovered that I merely needed documentation of citizenship of the United States. For example, this basically means a state ID or drivers license and a birth certificate). I then quickly continued to think about the opportunity of leaving the country for the first ti me and attending my first BME event, all in the same trip! I soon knew that I could not let this wonderful opportunity to attend this wonderful event! I promptly messaged my friend, Chris back, to let him know I indeed would be car-pooling with them from Toledo, Ohio on up to Toronto, Ontario!
It was final, I would be attending Bmefest 2004, and I could not have been more ecstatic! I fell asleep wonderfully that night despite all of the excitement at hand! Thursday quickly approached and I kept growing more anxious as the hours passed by! I tried to get in a quick nap on Thursday evening, since I had to leave my house by midnight to get to Toledo, Ohio by five o'clock in the morning! However, my napping did not go as well as I expected it to, I could not sleep! But nonetheless, I was ready to leave my house at midnight, and did just that.
A quick outline of the car trip: I departed from Hamilton, Ohio at midnight. I drove all the way up to Toledo, Ohio and found Toledo just fine, however finding the exit I needed to take in Toledo was another story! If you don't know your geography very well, keep in mind that Toledo, Ohio is at the top of Ohio, and the last city before Michigan. I kept getting lost and ending up across the Michigan border, and then came back into Ohio again, several times this occurred! I finally got fed up and called Chris to have him guide me while on the phone, however, another car-pool buddy of ours, Greg, answered the phone, and he directed me all the way to Chris's house! I was very relieved when I arrived only a few minutes after late, which was not bad timing considering getting lost!
Shortly after greeting each other upon my arrival, Chris, Greg and I loaded up into Chris's Expedition, and began our drive to Michigan to pick up Josh and Janet. After arriving to pick up Janet and Josh, we started our journey to Toronto! We had no problems what so ever with crossing into Canada, so that made our trip to Canada even more delightful! The car trip was pleasant, despite Greg constantly cracking jokes and making fun of my slightly southern accent! After getting lost in Toronto after missing our exit and receiving directions from a helpful man at a gas station, and getting stuck in traffic for a while, we arrived at the event and parked around two thirty in the afternoon.
There were a lot of people outside of the stadium, smoking and chatting when we arrived. We entered the stadium after being frisked to see if we were carrying any weapons and after having our purses or bags searched as well. We then told more wonderful volunteers our IAM names and they checked us off of the list and another volunteer dotted our hands as we entered.
Quickly upon entering I went over to buy a Bmefest shirt in pink, in case they were to run out before the night was over! I then put my new shirt (and let me add first BME shirt) into my BME calm logo shoulder bag. We then entered the actual field of the stadium and began to mingle and chat a bit. I must admit, at this point in time, I was quite nervous and uncomfortable. I had never met in person anyone that was present at this event, and I had just met the people I car-pooled with!
Soon after arriving, I ran into one of the very first friends I met on IAM, Jake, and quickly gave him a hug! It was so good to see him! I was very happy to spot someone I had really talked to a lot on IAM! Jake and me then hung out for a little while, and he also introduced me to many wonderful fellow IAM members! He introduced me to Shannon, which it was great that I finally got to meet the man behind the wonderful BME in person! It was also neat to hear some of the stories that Jake and Shannon had about events in the past! Jake continued to introduce me to many other members of the community that were present, and introduced me to another IAM friend of mine Ed. Jason, Ed, a friend Nikki (who was not present at Bmefest) and I will be car-pooling together to go to the Great Lakes BBQ later this month so I was very happy with getting to meet him!
Jake and I then parted ways for a bit, and I began to meet some other new people! I was now becoming more relaxed and starting to feel very comfortable. I then met Rachel (this Rachel is not Shannon's wife, it's another one of the lovely Rachels')! She had vibrant red hair that I adored and was sweet as can be, she quickly fell in love with my accent, and that made me happy that someone actually liked it (actually, I had a lot of compliments on my accent at the event)! I quickly became good friends with Rachel and then I met her friend that was with her, Merian! I must admit right now that Merian was such a great woman, I adore her, she is beautiful and so nice! The three of us had a few drinks, chatted away with each other and other members of the community, and were just all very content!
It was then announced that the Pain Olympics would be starting shortly and they mentioned signing up for it. However, we found out that they had to many people sign up to participate, so we were not needed. Which I was disappointed, but later on found out I would enjoy myself just as much anyway!
Rachel and I continued to chat, but we saw that Merian had disappeared for a bit. When the Pain Olympics began we went over to check out the scene and what was going on! We then spotted Merian was behind the contestants and was topless along with a few other women. I wanted very badly to join them and be topless, however I was a bit timid. I thought it over though, and decided it would be very liberating for me to be comfortable enough in my skin to bare it along with them. So, I took off my tank top and bra and joined standing with them, behind the Pain Olympics contestants! Now, this may not seem like a big deal to some people, but I gained a significant amount of weight within the last year, due to a medication and starting college, and have not been as comfortable with my self since, so this was a big step for me. I also had a fiancé who was not very supportive of the types of modifications I want to get in the future, so I was always afraid to do things of that nature, or to even by myself at times, in fear that he would not approve. So, being able to stand up with the other women topless was very meaningful and wonderful to experience. Not only did I feel liberated, and totally comfortable with my body, I also felt very sexually free in a sense. I am bisexual, and although I do not hide this, I have often times felt like I could not be myself so openly, but it was different here, the women were rubbing each others breasts, and being just so free and beautiful in their modified skin. This was a very freeing experience. Everyone could see us bare breasted, and we were okay with that, we were proud of our bodies, and comfortable in them, so did not feel we had to be held back and restricted by our clothing.
Besides experiencing something very liberating at the event, I also began to feel very attracted to Merian. Merian and I linked arms and went over to get another drink, and sit down together and chat. I then ended up sitting on top of Merian's lap, facing her. We were both still topless and I suppose we were a attractive sight to be seen together, because many people asked to snap a picture of us. Which neither one of us minded. Merian and I kissed a bit, and that was that. She is a very sweet girl, and I am very thankful that the event brought us together to meet! I really hope to go and visit Merian and Rachel sometime this year, they are both very wonderful friends and just delightful individuals!
I then slipped my tank top back on, and was still totally relaxed and just very happy with the accepting and friendly atmosphere of the event! Merian, Rachel and I then went into the ladies room to freshen up and chit chat some more, and we ran into a wonderful, sweet woman, who I finally after chatting with her realized it was Rachel, as in Shannon's wife. I felt a bit slow after I hadn't recognized her right away! But she was just such a sweet woman and I am so glad I had the pleasure of meeting her, not to mention seeing her lovely star eye implant up close and in person!
Merian and Rachel then left to get something to eat, and I met a few other people around the event and chatted away! We then rounded up our group for the car-pool and headed to the after party that was a couple blocks away. Which was fun as well! Shortly after we decided we would head back home since two of the people in the car-pool had plans for the next day! Which, I was fine with, and totally understood! So, we said our good-byes, and parted ways with everyone and began our car-trip back to the states. The car ride home was good, besides a little delay trying to get back in the states, they decided to search our vehicle and such, and of course, they found nothing, so we were eventually able to continue on our way.
A few additional notes on the event, I really enjoyed myself! I am very pleased with it, it was definitely worth the long car trip! I got to meet some wonderful people, even the Lizard Man! Not to mention, I found a part of myself again, and feel as if I have been liberated, and I am now free to once again be myself!
I look forward to attending more events in the future!