The State of Jefferson has been going through another surge of popularity! First of all, two years ago, Huell Howser and the PBS show, California Gold, came up and spent 3 days here, interviewing and recording for a special he did on the State of Jefferson.
Just recently I was contacted by a news anchor in the San Francisco Bay Area regarding an article that he'd like to do in the future. In addition, I've been asked to contribute an essay to a growing body of work on the State of Jefferson.
But more than that:
In May, I did an interview on our local NPR station (known as Jefferson Public Radio) and many of the questions related to the State of Jefferson movement. Last month I followed up with an interview on our local radio station, KSYC, with interviews with Susanah Fox and Corky, who both asked about the State of Jefferson "state of affairs." Obviously, the media is growing more interested in our mythical land of Jefferson.
And NOW? Coauthor Bernita Tickner and I have been asked to participate in a Book Signing at Medford, Oregon's COSTCO store on August 1. I'm still stunned. COSTCO? Wow....
When I asked our Arcadia Publisher's publicist about the event, she said it's something they've worked on for some time, but we "were hand selected" to participate. Flattering to say the least! The State of Jefferson has certainly hit the radar screen.....and I will post more news as it comes along. For more about other books I've authored or coauthored, be sure and visit gailjenner.com.
Obviously, there is still 'talk' about the State of Jefferson: and what does that mean? Are there people simply hearing about it for the first time? Or are there people wanting to make noise about the way they see the political and social landscape these days?
Not that the State of Jefferson is just about political gains or changes. It's more than that. It's deeper than that. As I live in and observe those who reside and remain here, I see that it's a heartfelt desire to preserve, protect, and illuminate the unique characteristics of this region. The people here see themselves as different than most of those who live 'down there' or 'up there' -- and they see themselves as wanting and needing to stay true to their own history.
I'm not sure most people can understand that thinking, or, more likely, they feel intimidated by it, almost threatened by it. Strangely so, to those who live here, because most of those who cherish the State of Jefferson ideology are terribly threatened by what is happening outside of this area. Things happen too quickly there; things happen erratically; things happen that seem to have little connection to the values held by the local society.
Change within the State of Jefferson is much more like an evolution....a process that reflects time spent changing. But nowadays, it's as if some of these changes that are occurring in our nation are being injected into the lives of people here, too, almost randomly and certainly with little thought as to how it will affect the local population.
That's a scary phenomenon, and how does anyone slow it down? How do people ask questions or ponder life when it speeds past leaving a wake of confusion and disillusionment? Or, more importantly, CAN anyone even slow things down long enough to ASK questions?
)
