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The Heart Beat

For couple, one heart, one world

Jacqueline Bone and Kenny Conley put unity of spirit into practice in their lives and in their wedding.

By AMY SCHERZER
Published August 5, 2005

YBOR CITY - Can you imagine a world where all people treat each other with love and respect? A world where people discover and share knowledge with open hearts and minds?

Jacqueline Bone and Kenny Conley can.

"I always believed truly in world peace and I try to live my life to affect it," Bone said. "Kenny was the first person I met who felt the same way."

The couple married in Toronto on March 19, the second anniversary of the start of the U.S. war in Iraq. They wanted it to coincide with a day of peace protests around the world.

They exchanged vows again June 12 in their Centro Ybor store, International Bazaar, on Eighth Avenue.

The wedding doubled as a showcase for their beliefs and business, which offers a diverse list of dance and music classes. Among the 200 guests were customers, students, artists, musicians and some shoppers who peeked over a purple curtain.

Musician Fred Johnson officiated, introducing a World's Fair of entertainment. Johnson sang and played the bolon accompanied by friends on the udu and sitar. A Greek folk band, flamenco and Polynesian dancers, and the colorful Kuumbadancers jumped and drummed a wedding blessing.

A trio played didgeridoos and Afro-American fusion. A storyteller spun an ancient fable, a family of five danced hip-hop and a bevy of belly dancers swirled with swords on their heads.

Soon, the stage overflowed with belly-dancing guests.

"This is what the whole world should be like," Johnson said during the party.

Bone, 36, grew up on her family's farm in Trinidad. Instead of watching TV, she flew kites and played in the orchard with dozens of cousins and friends. No pesticides touched the fruits and vegetables, chickens and ducks they raised on 256 acres.

Bone's world turned upside down when she turned 15 and went to live in Toronto with relatives. It wasn't a happy time, and she accelerated her studies to finish high school at 16.

Her entrepreneurial spirit emerged in Canada, first selling T-shirts and then smoothies. Blending fruits for a friend's diabetic brother led her to become the Juice Doctor.

Her business success allowed her to graduate from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and buy a condo at 18. She sold smoothies at festivals and franchised five locations in Toronto.

Born in Orlando, Conley, 33, was 3 years old when his parents divorced.

"Being raised by a single mother, I learned to appreciate and value independent women," said Conley, with a nod to his bride.

He embarked on his "wayward path," as he calls it, cleaning oysters on the beach and working every kind of restaurant job - dishwasher, busboy, prep cook, waiter and partner. He delivered pizza during spring break in Daytona Beach, installed auto glass in Washington, D.C.; and sold life insurance in Orlando.

He studied at Florida State University for pleasure, he said. "I never viewed college as a career requirement."

He was living in Orlando when he met Bone in Toronto. His stepfather's brother emigrated from Cuba to Toronto and was a neighbor of Bone's sister, Jemma.

When the families had dinner together, a friendship kindled. Conley was in a relationship and she was in the "year of waiting" before her divorce was granted by a Bahai Assembly.

But they stayed in touch. Nearly a year later, in 2002, Conley told her he was moving to Tampa and knew of a great place to sell smoothies. His girlfriend was now an ex.

When Bone came to help him start the smoothie bar in an Centro Ybor courtyard, Conley shared a book with her, In the Meantime: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want by Iyanla Vanzant. "I read it and knew I wanted a relationship again," she said. "I realized I was only pretending to be happy."

Life was not as smooth as a smoothie, however. Bone became ill, and so did Conley.

"She was going into surgery at Tampa General and I was in the waiting room and my appendix burst," he said. "All of the sudden, we're both in surgery."

As they convalesced, the couple had plenty of time to watch world news and talk about their ultimate goal of owning an organic farm in New Zealand.

What they saw on TV horrified them - and united them.

"Humanity was killing itself," Conley said.

But what could they do to make peace?

They could bring international vendors to promote traditions, foods, clothing, art and music in a 16,000-square-foot store incorporated as Give Peace a Chance. Inventory comes from 140 vendors, who pay a percentage of their sales to International Bazaar.

"We didn't have a half-million dollars (for inventory), but we have a lot of friends," Conley said.

Now in their third year of business, the Riverview newlyweds are forming two companies to host festivals and attract global participation: World Stage Productions and the International Center for Cultural Arts.

"We live who we are," Bone said.

"This isn't work, it's our dream," added Conley.

To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, reach her at 226-3332 or scherzer@sptimes.com

AUG. 6: WaZoo; beer, wine and food tasting benefits Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave.; 8-10:30 p.m.; $30 in advance; $35 at the door; 935-8552, ext. 276.

AUG. 11: Sushi Showdown benefits the Florida Aquarium; 6:30-9 p.m.; 701 Channelside Drive; ages 21 and up; $50 members, $55 nonmembers; 273-4568.

AUG. 19: Heartbeat Oriental Express cocktails and auction benefits Heartbeat International; 7 p.m.; Higgins Hall; $75 in advance, $100 at the door; 243-8769.

AUG. 21: Dine with the Devil Rays dinner auction benefits ALS Association of Florida and the Rays of Hope Foundation; 6:30 p.m.; St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave.; $125; 888-6900, ext. 24.

AUG. 28: Brides Around the World benefits St. Joseph's Women's Hospital; high tea and bridal fashion show; 2-5 p.m.; Hyatt Regency Tampa; $35; 872-0979.

[Last modified August 4, 2005, 08:43:14]