Taking the first stab at trying to define yesterday's TEFKAGARD:

EDISON, NJ, USA — Graeme Read, Abbamail's founder, was feted and honored
yesterday by 10 members of Abbamail in a hotel photography studio here.

In an effusion of merrymaking and comaraderie, Abbamailers greeted and
cheered Graeme's arrival, spent the day talking about their favorite
group, eating monstrous sandwiches at the hotel's deli, and watching
ABBA tapes, some quite obscure, as they joked and  enjoyed a day filled
with good will.

Graeme was given a Certificate of Appreciation by me, on behalf of the
group. In presenting him with the award, I compared his travels through
the US this summer to George Washington's journey from Mount Vernon to
Philadelphia to be inaugurated first president of the United States. 

During that trip, Washington was stopped in every burg and hamlet so
that citizens could throw flowers in his path and honor him. Though
Graeme is no president, his pioneering effort to establish Abbamail is
worthy of being thanked by the fans who have become closer to Abba
through his efforts.

The certificate read:
For his tireless dedication to the needs of Abba fans all over the world
and for his acerbic wit and commentary which together have molded the
disparate fans of ABBA into a cohesive group capable of making a major
impact on modern and historic popular music. (Also, he's a great guy).
We love you, Graeme!

It was signed by the attendees.

Through (this is still my speech) Graeme's work, ABBA fans have been
given a voice that is equal for all, regardless of orientation, culture
or age. This is a great community.

Graeme, visibly moved by the experience, thanked everyone. He was next
given a package of material from Ken from Sandpoint, Idaho, who had
shipped it in through Bob Eber, another Abbamailer also in attendance.
Bob also thanked Graeme on everyone's behalf. Bob, by the way should be
thanked separately because he came two hours early and stayed way late
to help set up and then clean up. Thanks, Bob.

The day was supposed to start at 2 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. As people
arrived through the afternoon, the symbiosis of good will carried us
until almost 10:30 p.m. as we watched tape after tape of incredible ABBA
material, mostly supplied by Jeffrey DeHart, a fantastically plugged-in
ABBA fan who had a treasure chest of things to share. Bob Also had tons
of Abba tapes and vinyl which he displayed on one table.

If Graeme is the George Washington of Abbamail, Jeffrey must surely be
the Thomas Jefferson, initially Washington's right-hand man and
self-styled genius of art, letters and culture.

Also in attendance (sorry if the names are incomplete or spelled
incorrectly): Jonas from NY; Abbi, Janet and Christine, all from either
Southern New Jersey or Philadelphia; German, from Costa Rica;  and
George, from Milltown, NJ. Also, my wife Lori and daughter Sarah
attended for part of the time, Sarah, 13, to make cotton candy for the
group.

There was nothing spectacular about the day; it was just a gathering of
10 or so self-selected people who share a common interest, or in this
case, interestS: ABBA and Abbamail. We learned how vast and extensive is
the network worldwide of ABBA fans, how many different people there are
in various nations who are dedicated to keeping the wonder of ABBA alive
and to following the current goings-on of the four original members.

Many of the attendees had an especially strong preference for Frida,
especially among Janet, Abbi and Christine, so the day's emphasis was
slightly more on Frida.

Personal aside: Graeme is a very regular, pleasant person, and it seems
interesting to me how the perception of him as a tough-as-nails, severe
list leader has grown. 

As others have met him, they have emailed that Graeme is a disarmingly
pleasant person, and they said the "severe" impression is plainly wrong.
But, in fact, he is severe in one way: In his dedication to keeping
Abba's memory (and current endeavors) in the forefront of the music
scene. In that sense, Abbamailers have a good, strong leader.

I left out a lot, but I'm sure you will see more accounts of TEFKAGARD
soon.

Ron Miskoff