Carrie L. Hedges entered the Land of Oz when she saw the 1939 MGM movie on the big screen. She paged through Oz books her brothers checked out from the library, relishing the Neill illustrations and wishing she knew how to read. Once she was old enough to have her own library card she checked out The Wizard of Oz so frequently that the librarians gave her a copy; it remains one of her prized possessions
In 1964 an envelope arrived filled with Baum Bugles and other related Oz materials. A letter from the late Fred M. Meyer explained that her local librarians had enrolled her in the International Wizard of Oz Club. She’s been a member ever since.
At her first Ozmopolitan Convention in Holland, Michigan, in 1971 she met the dashing Peter Hanff, distinguished brothers Greene, affable Fred Meyer, gentle Irene Fisher, comical Bill Eubank, and many more. The collecting bug also bit. She attended almost every Ozmopolitan Convention thereafter and has become a fairly regular Winkie attendee since 1985.
