Aliens discussing Lunar Codex party plans. (Note: Examine alien’s faces and see how seriously they’re taking this endeavor.)
I read the latest Lunar Codex posting concerning the Polaris launch. It said, “The Polaris launch is scheduled with Griffin for November 2024, with a possible delay to February 2025. Schedule changes in the space industry are not uncommon – space is hard.”
Well, you know what else is hard?
Party planning.
Party planning without knowing when Polaris is going to launch or the lander is going to touch the surface, that’s tough.
How are we going to book a venue?
How are we going to draw in a crowd?
Well, anyway the South Florida Writers Association created this game plan.
But next to the words “date” and “location” appears the ominous acronym “TBA.”
So our PR Director created her list of media contacts to invite to the party. (Editors of The Writer’s Digest and The Writer are send invitations to party and press package.
But without a date and a venue, press releases can’t be emailed.
I know what you’re thinking, “What’s he bellyaching about? In the words of Tonto, “Kemosabe, party many moons away.” Ya Tonto, it’s only May and we’ve got until December or February to pull this party off.
But SFWA members are moonstruck, obsessive-compulsive Earthlings. Like the Boy Scouts, our motto is “Be Prepared.”
So here’s our proposed agenda:
MOON PARTY AGENDA—Venue and Date TBA
1. Welcome by President;
2. Introduction of Howard Camner (Our member and poet who has 14 of his poems headed toward the Moon and Co-editor of The Sea of Tranquility—A Literary Anthology
3. Howard discusses: How my poems and SFWA members poems and short stories landed on the Moon;
4. Some of the “Old Guard” and SFWA members read their works dressed as Astronauts or Aliens;
5. Our resident chanteuse, with anyone who wants to accompany her, sings: “Fly Me To The Moon” or “Got A One-Way Ticket to the Moon” and “Blue Moon.” Lyrics to these songs provided to party goers. Here is a sample:
“Blue moon, you saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue moon, you knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for
Lyrics by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart (1934)
6. Ten (10) SFWA or “Old Guard” members read their own poems or short stories that are housed on the Moon (3 minute limit per member);
7. Samuel Peralta, curator of the Lunar Codex time capsule, speaks about the Lunar Codex via Zoom or in person;
8. Salt and Pepper Shakers, shaped like the Moon, the Earth, a rocket ship and an alien are awarded to all attendees who had their work on the Lunar Codex;
9. Artist-created souvenir menu lists items TBD but crescent rolls and moon cheese seem appropriate as appetizers;
10. A moon-shaped cake—pockmarked with craters, a plastic satellite and an alien—and the words, “Congrats Lunar Codex Poets and Writers” written in black on the white frosting;
11. Place-settings consist of Moon and spaceship designed napkins, plates, paper cups and one Moon pie (You remember those delicious Southern snacks consisting of two round Graham Crackers with marshmallow filling in the center dipped in chocolate) placed on an outer space plastic tablecloth. Tied to chairs are Starry Night Moon Shaped Metallic Balloons. (Available on Amazon)
12. Paper cups filled with Moon juice (ingredients remain a top secret) are raised for a hearty toast to Howard and all the Lunar Codex writers. And each participant is awarded:
A. A congratulatory artist-created certificate;
B. SFWA or NASA created space patch adorned with a picture of the Polaris rocket or a lunar satellite or Lunar Codex disc;
C. T-shirt with one of the The Sea of Tranquility—A Literary Anthology artist’s painting on it and the words: “We Made History” or “We Made It To the Moon”;
D. A copy of The Sea of Tranquility—A Literary Anthology—The Earth-bound edition.
Note: All attendees receive copy of the book with paid admission to event. Patches and T-shirts are for sale.
13. If our venue sells alcohol beverages, our assortment of drinks ranges from moonshine to Blue Moon beer to blue moon martinis to amber moon and to angry moon. Who knew that so many drinks have moon in their names?
So you can see, we have one-hell-of-a-party planned.
But don’t forget, schedule changes in the party-planning business are not uncommon—therefore, party planning is hard.
Oh my! You are incredible—Thelma
I enjoyed that, thank you for sending it to me!—Samuel Peralta, Curator of the Lunar Codex time capsule
Thumbs up:
Mary;
Donna;
Joanne;
Becky;
Alan;
Mary;
Harold;
Paul;
Sandy;
Steve;
Michael
Richard;
Jonathan;
Cary;
Perry;
Perry Thank for sharing;
Neil;
Aaliyah;
Debra;
Deborah;
Aimee;
Sue;
Bella;
John;
Sandra;
Jason;
Aishat;
Carol;
Joseph;
Surelle;
Guang;
Should I drink the “Moon Juice” before or after I discuss the moon trip? I’m looking forward to this. —Howard
