2005 Gathering Report

Success!!!!

Hi Beach Buddies,
The "Gathering" was a wonderful success.......we had a total of 20 people here, 17 made it for the BIG photo shot too!!! This was the biggest gathering of ARD sufferers in one place ever....a few were not able to make it for various conflicts in their schedule or they were not feeling well but we had some newbies show up which was great. Tons of info was shared...tons of support was flowing...tons of hugs were given.......and tons of "angels" spread their wings!! Nancy was blown away with her award.....Jo was on the phone during this and after to talk to everyone. Lorie did an excellent job presenting it and helping me so much to make this such a success. We have loads of pics to share also. Everyone pitched in and we had tons of food and comfort along with people visting and meeting each other. . Leigh and Nancy made everyone the cutest angels. I can't thank those who came and participated and helped in their own way enough!!!

It was a day full of love and support, "Awareness" was discussed and we are all gearing up for Sept 22nd......National/International ARD Awareness Day !! The husbands participated and seemed to enjoy everything too. Many learned ways to help with this task of spreading the word.... we had tons of materials to pass out too on MANY topics. Thank you Jo for your kind words delivered via Lorie...they really touched my heart. I was able to get back to the girls hotel tonight for a quick dip in the hot tub...lo...felt sooo good. Right now I am pretty tired but wanted to let everyone know, this was an awesome "Gathering". For those who could not be here, we lit a candle...you were in our hearts......and also said a few words for those who face surgery soon and for those who have lost their battle from this devasting disease.

A special THANK YOU to all who made such an effort to come here...some traveling great distances.....many were not feeling well but kept on pushing just to come and meet others and offer support. Big Comfy Hugs to all the "Beach" angels.....my energy comes from ALL of you. Your support is what this is all about. s and tons of love Anthea

 What a wonderful day!

(I moved this here from another post to try to keep the gathering together...)

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it. I can not begin to tell you what a wonderful time I am having. It has been so great meeting Sandy and Sue and of course our own special angel Nancy in person. And of course it is great to be with Leigh again.

We have been hot tubbing and just enjoying each others company. It is just such a great great feeling to be with so many friends who you have never met before except through the message board or chat. I just wish everyone could be here. I have started to send photos to our special angel, Jo, so keep an eye out for them. I will also be taping and taking more photos this afternoon at the gathering. (There is a real good one of our Miss Anthea and Leigh enjoying themselves.)

It was sooo great to see Leigh at the airport and then to pick up Nancy. We knew each other without ever seeing each other before. She is just an amazing, amazing woman. She is our wonderwoman! And Leigh... what can I say! She is so special too. I am so blessed to have met her before and to be able to have our weekly phone chats and especially spending time together.... (Thank you Jay for allowing her to come)

Sandy came in yesterday and it was great to spend some time with her and having lunch with her. She had a long trip here so she was really wiped out. So I am looking forward in spending more time with her today. She is great!!!!

Sue made it in last night and was able to spend some time hot tubbing too. She is so great! I am looking forward in spending more time with her.

Our dear friend Bev is here but we haven't been able to hook up yet. But we will today!!! I can't wait.

It was also nice for my daughter, Shellie, to come down from school for the day and meet Leigh, Nancy and Sandy. She already met Anthea before and loves her. She wanted everyone to know that it was really nice to meet everyone and hopes we all have fun for the remainder of our stay. She had to go back up yesterday because she had to be at work today or she would have loved to go to the gathering.

Today we are all having breakfast together and then we will be going to Anthea's for the gathering. Can't wait!

Well... need to go shower and get ready for our breakfast meeting so I will not stink when we get together.

So... I'll catch up later and just wish everyone could be here.

Take care!

Love ya all!

Lorie

Re: What a wonderful day!

I just moved the previous post for what was happening before the gathering... here is a short post of afterwards...

I just got home from Columbus after dropping Leigh off at the airport. It's been a long weekend... but not long enough. When you get together with such wonderful people you never want to leave. We just had so much to talk about and share.

The gathering went so great! Our dear Ms. (wild woman) Nancy received the Angel Award and I had the honor in presenting it. (even though she got up and had to use the powder room right at the time when we were going to present her with the award). But that's ok... that is Nancy. That lady is remarkable and seemed to have such a wonderful time. I was so blessed in being able to spend so much quality time with her.

Our dear Ms. Anthea and Sir William was such the hots and hostess (as always). They opened up their house to everyone and pampered us all. I can't even begin to give them the thanks they deserve.

The gathering was simply amazing. It was sooooo good to see the angels from last year and to meet some new angels this year. (Kathy and John... remember to come prepared to spend the night next year. We sure did miss your company at the hot tub ) That goes for everyone else who had to go home.

Sue and Sandy... I hope you had a nice trip home. It was great that you were able to stay and we got the chance to get to know each other a little better. You are both amazing and inspirational women.

And my dear, dear friend Leigh! It was great as always. Loved every minute of it. (I really enjoyed listening to you and Nancy chat away.) Hope you will forgive me for losing you two in Wally World.

OK... I'm going to get off now and will post tomorrow. It's been a really long and emotional day having to leave everyone and driving home. So please forgive me if I forgot someone and I will post after I have a good nights sleep. I will also be sending Jo more photos to use.

Love ya all!

Lorie

Make that a wonderful WEEK so far!!!!!

I've been away from home now for 8 days. During the three days I was at Jan's, I managed to make her husky, Max, fall in love with me, as well as sweet-talking my way through the wall that her shepherd, Sybyl, has erected around her feelings. Syb was abused before Jan got her, so she is very shy of strangers. But Jan tells me that the day I left, she found Sybyl sleeping on my bed, so I think it will be a different story when I get back there in 3 weeks.

As Lorie has said in her post, we recognized each other right off, and hit it off as well, all three of us. It was like getting together with your long-lost sisters after many years apart.

It has been an absolutely fantastic weekend here in Columbus. From arriving at the hotel after a couple of hours with Anthea and Bill and "da boyz" until Lorie took Leigh to the airport this afternoon, it was just one round of hugs and giggles after another. It was such a pleasure to be here to participate in the Gathering this year and to see that I am a member of a group of VERY BEAUTIFUL women, both inside and out. I'm not even going to TRY to name names, because I know that I would leave someone out, and I don't want to hurt anyone.

I was so honored to be presented with the Angel Award this year - it was totally unexpected, and the speech that Jo prepared to be delivered by Lorie had me in tears almost from the very start - but that wasn't difficult, seeing that 10 minutes before that I was nearly crawling to the powder room in agony. I felt so humbled by the praise for simply doing what needed doing whenever it needed done. . .it's just the way I was raised. If something needs to be done, if someone needs a helping hand or a word of encouragement, just do it, reach out, or speak out. What I give is given back to me ten-fold, and I appreciate every kind word and every loving thought, for it makes my days easier to get through, and I thank each and every one of you, especially Jo and Anthea, for your loving friendship.

Lorie, I need to apologize to you. I LOVE to shop, even when I don't buy anything or don't spend much money, and I am so used to going by myself or having Chester waiting impatiently for me to finish that when I get a shopping cart in my hands, I'm off to the races. *LOL* I promise, if I make it back next year, I WILL bring you a toddler's leash so that you can keep track of me

Leigh, I know I kept you up pretty late a couple of nights, but I enjoyed every second of it. Thank you so much for your help with that little project Friday night, and I hope I was able to "pay you back" a bit by the lessons I gave you last night - although it hit me after you left that I had forgotten to show you how to finish it off!!!!!!!!!!! Check out the website on that instruction sheet, I think they have finishing instructions. If not, I'll tell you how in an e-mail.

To all of the wonderful ladies that I met (or met again) on Saturday - it was truly a joy to spend time with you all, and I hope that I have the pleasure again in the future.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be going back through the monthly archives to make sure that the Resources Area is complete and hopefully I'll be able to get things sorted out in there by date.

Until the next time, God Bless all of you.

Hugs and prayers,

Nancy

You are all so truly awesome and inspirational. Anthea, Nancy, Lorie, Leigh, Sandy. It was really emotional and strengthening to be there with you. Sharing stories, etc. Leaving was really, really hard. And it was really special talking to Jo on the phone. And Bill, cracked me up!!!! What a guy you have there Anthea! You have a very special family dynamic. Sarah was very special as well. You are all in my thoughts this week....

This was a very special trip for me, and gave me some very special memories, and are very special friends. I am so glad I made the trip!

You all rock!!!!!

Big Big Hugs.... Sue

I knew I was forgetting something special in my post last night, and this morning it came to me - I forgot about the little pieces of Heaven that Jill brought with her!!!

Jill made and brought a platter of Bombo Beach Eclairs that were simply divine!!! I've been hearing about them for a year now, and they were every bit as sinfully delicious as I've been told they would be.

Jill, Thank You from the bottom of my sweet tooth for your piece de resistance! I swear those eclairs made the whole feast.

Along with the fantastic company and sharing that we were privileged to experience on Saturday, we had some mouth-watering delicacies donated for our enjoyment. Cindy with her pasta salad, Kathy and Pat with cakes, Lora with zucchini bread (cut in the shapes of dolphins and palm trees), Sarah with the beachball cookies and tea sandwiches, Marilyn's fruit salad, and the other cookies, squares, and yummies were all wonderful accompaniments to Jill's eclairs.

I swear if I keep eating this way, I'll gain 50 lbs before I get home, and Chester will divorce me!!!!

Hugs and prayers,

Nancy

I hope I am doing this correctly, oh well, here goes. I cannot begin to tell all of you at Anthea's on Saturday what a truly wonderful experience this was for John and I. I am one of the newbies in the group and everyone made us feel so welcome. Anthea, as I told you on the phone, it was your sincere, caring, and crazy personality that came through the phone and I knew then, no matter how I felt, I had to make the trip on Saturday no matter what. It was a wonderful day with truly wonderful people. It was amazing to be in a room with people who did not judge or look stangely when I got up with my pillow or was walking holding my belly. It was great!! We all seem to share the same pain.

You are all in my prayers and I am working hard this week on spreading the word via emails, letter to my representative, putting the sticker on my car window. I know one day I will find someone standing at my car in a mall or grocery store waiting for me to help them as you all helped me.

I can't wait until we can all meet again. Until then, thank you, thank you for a wonderful day. I will keep each one of you in my prayers. I know my special angel directed me to the bombobeach website.

Love and prayers to all

Kathy

Hello All

Ok some of you may have read this in another thread...as I posted it in the pre Gathering Post...OOOPSS!!!

I must say it has been another successful Gathering of Fellow ARD Angels....I was so happy to have been fortunate to be able to attend my 2nd Annual Bombobeach Gathering. It was with great pleasure and happiness to meet several new friends this year. As for those who were also attending their second annual as well, it was so wonderful to see and talk with all of you and to get updates on how things are going in your lives. It was very meaningful to see so many of you regardless of your pains and other symptoms or issues to bitethe bullet and bring yourselfs to be with fellow Beach Angels, it truly shows that we are all very important in each others lives and we are willing to go thru great lengths to be there.

*Bev...I know had you not had your "Meltdown" as you called it, I know you would have been there.. Heck you made it thru the 5 hour drive..and got as close as the Hotel. Ya know I will keep you in my thoughts hope we hear from you soon. As you and I had recently spoke on MSN..and you assured me that you would be here..So I am sure you are very disappointed as well. Love Ya Bev*

Sandy came in Friday a.m. and we were able to spend some time getting to know one another and had a Great Lunch together. I was happy that you were able to tolerate the pains to get you here.

Sue came in Friday p.m. I was so glad to finally meet you in person, we have talked a many a night on msn and Bombo Chats..I had such fun sitting in that hot tub chatting with you..I look forward to staying in touch once we all get back home.

Jo...once again...It was a pleasure to speak to you via the telephone....I am sorry that I kept having to set you down, to get the group picture...It was a bit hard for the fellas to understand how to operate the camera's...Now isn't that something...You would think the guys would be experts with the electronics....

Some of the Ohio Angels I met for the first time.....

April came with our 2nd time attender Lora..It was with great pleasure to talk with you and get to know you. I am sure that Lora will let you read this via her computer. You and I agreed to stay in contact via snail mail..I look forward to that.

Kathy..who is our newest member on The Beach..It was very nice to talk with you and share some of my experiences with you, maybe a thing or two we talked about may help you to understand things more. I hope that my instructions for getting MSN loaded are helpful. You seemed very excited to have found Bombobeach now maybe you can learn of some new ways to help you cope with this insidious illness. I must say you look remarkable for your age (I won't disclose that information) Also, some of the information that you shared with us on Disability was helpful information. Look forward to some chat time with you real soon. You seemed pretty excited to here we chat online. It really is Fantastic to be able to stay in touch via msn.

Cindy I also thoroughly enjoyed meeting you as well. I am glad that you came by the hotel and sat around the hot tub with us. Extending the time you spent with us was very pleasurable. Sorry you weren't feeling well for Sunday's breakfast..but of course I understand.....You too my friend look remarkable for you age. I think that maybe now that you have faces to go with names..you will be able to follow posts a bit easier..Who knows maybe you may start posting to some of us..and remember vibrating office chair with heat is amazing how long you can actually sit at the computer. with minimal pains.

Pat who came with Cindy...we were only able to chat for a litle bit..I enjoyed talking with you. I had good intentions to come back and chat with you a bit more about Fibromylagia and the books you have read by Devon. Please don't think I was not interested as I was very eager to hear more.

I think I may have covered all of the new "Beach Angels" I met this year...and please if I missed any of you I apologize, its just that it was a really long day, and Nancy and I were up really really late working on a last minute project that Nancy found at WalMart the night before the Gathering It was perfect for the occasion.

I did truly enjoy meeting all of you, and I hope we are given the opportunity to get to know one another../thru out this upcoming year....via posts, chats, and MSN...and that we see each other again next year for the 3rd Gathering...and that we all have a successful year with Awareness...

I would like to add:...The shopping trips were great....Lorie....its ok..that you kept losing us...We were able to cover some ground in Walmart..despite our pains. The time that I was able to spend with Lorie, Nancy, and Anthea....was truly special to me...I will cherish the moments forever...Can't wait to get my pictures developed..so that I can put them in the photo box, that Lorie gave me...and then I think I will put that on my desk at work...So when I am having one of those days...I can take a minute....and look back on what a great Vacation..I had....With some very very special people...Beach Angels...You are all the Best!!!

And again....F.Y.I. This post has been...moved..However, I did add some things to it....


Love to All
Leigh

Last updated: 18/11/2005   

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