IONS ~ LA had a wonderful day yesterday!  Long time IONS board member and high spirited, delightful, spiritual movie producer, and founder of Hartley Films was born and died on March 6th.  She gave hugely and generously to IONS, as well as encouraged the dreams and passions of women everywhere... so we celebrated her spirit... all day... with a giant gorgeously decorated birthday cake and tons of food and drink. 

But more importantly we celebrated her with the results of her inspiration through Sheilah and Adam Mitchell talking and showing their moving and brilliant film on Edgar's own recorded experience of his return from the moon.  I think it is one of the best things I have ever seen and will personally show it to everyone that comes to visit as what IONS is all about for me.  Then came Peter Russell with his film "From Science to God" and the producer of that film, Kathy Close, president of Close to Spirit Productions, who was greatly influenced by Elda's life.  So the day started out a room full of people who mostly never heard of Elda Hartley and everyone of them left feeling like they knew and loved her! That was fun!! 

We showed Elda's last movie because there was so much "her" in it, and everyone was saying they would love to look like that when they are 69 let alone 89.  Kathy and Sheilah were both adorable, gracious, and wonderful in their details of their experiences of Elda and their films.   We put together the attached little "Elda Hartley Woman of Spirit Awards" for Peter to give to Kathy and Sheilah.   He could not have been more personable, brilliant, warm.  He talked and answered questions and then gave the 2 awards after he was through talking.  Then we took a break for Elda's birthday cake with "Thank you ELDA HARTLEY for the inspiration of your life" written on it, after which we showed her film, "How to Die Happy." 

The food was abundant and terrific, beverages  varied so everyone could have what they wanted.  There was not room for even one more chair so lots of folks were sitting and sprawled on the floor and some in a room in the back where they could hear but not see anything.  But after the day together everyone left feeling we were one big family.

It was a fun day, high energy, grateful, happy audience, lots of enthusiasm, nothing stuffy about it.  Can't ask for more than that, can you?!