News Bulletin ---- A Happening!

[essdipity]

Well, after lots of months of talking about it, we did it!

Yes, Elaine and I finally met up. She drove south, I drove northeast, and we met in a charming little town called Chesapeake City, full of funky little boutiques and quaintness, also some very nice restaurants. Ours was in a very old converted house.

There we sat on a sunporch overlooking the C&D Canal and a huge, arching bridge, watching the barges, tugboats and container ships go by. It was a gorgeous fall day, color just at its beginning in this part of the world. We ate scrumptuously, some of it thanks to the Chesapeake Bay nearby.

We talked and talked for more than 3 hours! Some about the world of MS, lots about family, friends and dogs. It was a wonderful time for sure. At the end of our meal we ordered some marvelously decadent ice cream, that Elaine may be able to describe better than I. We thought of all our forum friends who send cyber ice cream everywhere.

At the end we had decided one thing---we'll do it again and again.

It's so nice to finally meet someone who already was my friend, I just hadn't met her yet. And since I met Heather last winter, that makes two for me. Wish I could make it dozens from the forum.

ess

[essdipity]

No probs saying where we are and inviting others to do the same. For various reasons many don't want to be too specific, but a general area is just fine. Then if it looks like the same ballpark, PMs can seal the deal.

I hope lots more forum members can arrange rendez-vous. Rendez-vouses? :o)

Your social director,
ess

[doublevision1]

How great that you were able to meet up in person.  And what a perfect way to spend a lovely autumn day.  It's amazing how this forum has brought people together who would otherwise have never had the opportunity to connect.

Rena, yes one of these days when I make it to Edmonton long enough to actually do something other than visit the MS Clinic, I will let you know!  Wouldn't it be fun if the Canadians could get together, although we are rather spread out aren't we?

Even better would be an international convention of MedHelp MS Forum Members!  With so many of us present that we'd need name tags.  We could make it a potluck.  I'll bring the dessert.  :)

[doni54]

That is so wonderful, I am glad you shared with us!!  There are so many here I want to meet face to face, it would be the best thing ever.  

I talk on the phone with a couple of my friends here and that is just the greatest, but to actually get to sit down with them would be a dream come true.

Here's to many more of us getting to meet each other and to Ess & Elaine to have many more visits.

Good luck to Quix and Kathy, you guys make it happen!!

Hugs
doni

[sllowe]

Yay!!!!!!!!!

This was such a nice read to wake up to! I'm so happy for you two. Essy, I very much miss your descriptive writing.  You and Elain made us all feel like we were there too.  

This is wonderful.  Thank you both for sharing this get together with us.

Hugs,
Shell

[mary_kay]

Wow...that brought back memories!  When I was a kid, we vacationed on a boat my Dad built every summer.  I grew up in a south Jersey town on the Delaware River.  We went through the C & D Canal to the Chesapeake Bay and to spots on the eastern shore.  Some of my best memories in my childhood.  Bittersweet feelings overwhelm me right now.  How wonderful to connect with friends. Is it OK to say where we are now? Can we check with each other to find out if we are near to others on this forum?
Blessings,
Mary Kay

[Wobbly]

just to read this is amazing...all of us friends and when a few of us can meet and get together what a special thing..... wouldn't it be a wonderful time for all of us to meet and get to see each other.... we chat and help each other and to see each other I know it would be so neat.

One day, maybe we can do that... some of us anyhow...??  

take care everyone

wobbly
undx

[Lulu54]

I wish you could see the smile on my face from reading this - it brings back some wonderful memories.  

This summer I had the good fortune to travel to Belgium, thanks to a trip my husband won - one of the heart sisters I corresponded with regularly on that forum, who lives in England, made the ferry trip with her husband to surprise me and my husband.  We had a wonderful dinner, lots of laughs, plenty of Belgium beer, and then the following morning we  had breakfast together before she had to head home.  It is a memory that I will hold dear forever.  

I also have met for lunch regularly here in town with another heart sister who is only 26 years old - and we have the most fascinating conversations evn though I am old enough to be heer mom.

Putting a face and a voice as well as a hug to these compassionate people we talk with regularly in these forums really is a life-altering experience.  

I can't encourage you enough to make the effort to make it happen with anyone who lives within a reasonable distance.  Or if you are traveling, put out a post about where you will be and if anyone is close enough to rendezvous with.

Ess and Elaine have me motivated to do the same with you fine people here ... if anyone makes it to Ohio let me know!

My best to you all,
Laura

[Sunnytoday]

sniffles, that's not fair... you guys at least live in the same general area... and can dream of getting seeing each other at least once. ok, so you Canadian ARE a bit spread out, but... I shall just think happy thoughts about that yummy ice-cream and perhaps one day I will drop by one of ya'll place and say Hellow.... and you can laugh at my funky accent and my stylish cane... I do hope to see soome of you forum friends some-day. :)
Have happy dreams tonight and a very happy SUNday
~Sunnytoday~

  

[Quixotic1]

I am jealous, too.  Meeting each other is Soooooo awesome.  It is like meeting an old friend for the first time.  Elaine and Craig and I were so comfortable the very first time we met!

You would send cyber ice cream on the very day that I decided to lose weight!!!  darn

We all should make the effort to meet when we can.  I think a meeting is in my future with Kathy (Fluffysmom).  She and I live so close together!

Quix

[Rena705]

I am soooo jealous!!!  Ada and I talk all the time about getting to each other's places to kick each other's doctor's butt's but eating ice cream sounds pretty good too!  Glad to hear you had a good time and maybe Wobbly or Moki or Cre8_it or db and I will get together in Canada sometime too...probably be for hot chocolate or hot toddies though... hehe he

Rena

I just realized that db is North of me, Cre8_it is South of me, Moki is East of me, Wobbly is West of me...and I am in the middle...guess we got Canada covered girls!!! hehe

[hbananas]

I certainly enjoyed the servings you ate for me.  Thank you.

[mokibear]

I'm so envious!! That's just so great that you were able to meet. Sounds like you gals had a wonderful time.

Glad you had some ice cream for us!! I'm drooling, it sounds delicious.

Moki

[monotreme]

I had a great time!!!  I agree with ess, it was so nice to meet a friend you had "known" for a year from the forum.  

The ice cream was from a Delaware dairy farm that has a creamery and makes award winning ice cream.  This particular flavor is only available at the restaurant.  It is vanilla with butterscotch and chunks of crunchy chocolate.  It was quite delicious.  We had some for all of our forum family too.  

I'm looking forward to meeting again ess!!

Elaine