Hi everyone,
Hopefully, my additional thanks aren't too late in coming...
Trisha (Bluesky63), WE DID IT! After knowing each other on two Internet MS forums for
12 years, we FINALLY met in the real world!! When a decade passed, I started to give up hope that we would ever get to meet in person, BUT you showed me that one should
never give up hope -- the moment I saw
a gorgeous cascade of flame-colored hair, I knew I would get to hug a very special, lovely, fun, caring, and vibrant person. Spending time having coffee together was such a treat. Thank you so much for going to the symposium -- let's not wait another dozen years before we see each other again!
Chris (1eye), you and your wife, Suzanne, are two of the most wonderful people I've ever met. Truly. Wonderful. When my narcolepsy symptom started to flare during happy hour, you left your friends in the bar early in order to see me safely to my room -- you proved that kindness and compassion are alive and thriving at TIMS. My husband and I, eternally grateful, thank you more than words can ever tell for having taken such excellent care of me. I love all your posts so please keep them coming!
Angela and Keith, hopefully my words will somehow find you or you will find them. Spending time with you was a joy. You showed that life can be beautiful when it's as quiet as two new friends simply holding hands and can be as invincible as the love you two share. Thank you with all my heart for giving me the pleasure of your company and for allowing me the privilege of getting to know you. My
Flowers 4 MS tee-shirt is on its way. You remain in my prayers.
Maren (Cece), through good times and bad and through happy times and sad, our online friendship lasted and strengthened which has made me very happy, and meeting you in the real world has made me even happier!! I had so much fun with you, just like I knew I would, and I promise that next year, we won't get into any trouble at all <smiling>, so hopefully your husband won't mind if we sit next to each other again, lol. Thank you for participating on the patient panel -- you were great!
Michelle (bestadmom), I keep laughing at myself every time I think back to what a pest you must have thought I was and to you probably thinking, "Why is this stranger sitting next to me and acting like she knows me?" Lesson learned. From now on, every time I introduce myself to a member of TIMS, I'll definitely make sure to include my TIMS user name (I told you I can be a dolt). I'm very glad you asked if anyone had seen HappyPoet so that we could be properly introduced! Thank you for participating on the patient panel -- you, too, were great!
Marc (marcstck), meeting you was fantastic, and your photo essay was superb. I can't thank you enough for having taken those amazing photos! If you haven't already, you should enter each of them in contests. The photo that perfectly captures the bird taking off in flight from the bird bath statue that itself has the same bird taking off in flight is my favorite photo and fills me with hope that such "freedom" will one day be possible for everyone. Thank you for sharing your photos and for speaking about the deep symbolism in each one. I can't wait to see the photos again and to read your words on your
Wheelchair Kamikaze blog.
Deb (dlb), you're in my thoughts as you rest this week after your CCSVI procedure with DrS on Monday. I'm very glad arrangements worked out so you and your husband were able to rendezvous in NYC and attend the symposium together -- if he hadn't made his connecting flights, I would have stayed with you until he arrived. I'm very thankful I had the opportunity to meet you in person. Please remember to rest!
Pam (pklittle), I'm very sorry we didn't get a chance to meet at the symposium, but Cece pointed you out to me, so if there is a next time, I'll definitely say hello and introduce myself. Until then, I'm thankful we have TIMS.
I'm already looking forward to DrS's July, 2012 NYC CCSVI Update Symposium.
Best wishes, everyone!
~Pam