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New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Nashcon: Personal Results
(Message started by: Jeepgun on Jul 19th, 2004, 1:42pm)

Title: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 19th, 2004, 1:42pm
I'm finally rested enough (and no longer so hungover [smiley=laugh.gif]), so I'm actually able to organize my thoughts a little.

First, I apologize for the length of this.

Thank you again for all that worked so hard to make Nashcon04 such a resounding success.

I returned home and began unpacking, and finally opened the yellow bag of stuff that I got at the registration table. When I found the little cluster headaches survival kit, I started crying... Such amazing compassion, and such a seemingly trivial thing... Sheesh... Thanks also, for the recipe for the cold-pack. I immediately made one, although I am not in cycle right now.

After sitting in on the presentation and listening to the direction that O.U.C.H. is moving, and the goals that are being worked towards, I am filled with a sense of commitment and belief in the organization. In the future, I would like to become increasingly involved with it, if there is some way in which I can help. For starters, if there is some kind of information kit suitable for passing out to physicians, I would gladly do so. I live in a small town, and we have several doctors' offices and one main ENT specialist. In my spare time, I would be glad to take these in and drop them off... Pamphlets, medical studies, signs & symptoms checklist... Whatever...

I witnessed someone else getting hit for the first time... It made me cry. If I could have taken that hit for them, I would have gladly done so. It was good that I was able to witness this, because I am more firmly convinced that the less my wife has to see me getting hit, the better.

I am surrendered to the fact that I have cluster headaches, and resolved to surrender to the pain when it comes, rather than railing against it. I am also determined to keep CH from taking over my life, and to marginalize it as much as I possibly can, so that it has little/no impact on my personal quality of life, and the quality of life of my family.

Picking up the biggest damn oar I can find, and rowing my heart out...

Love to you all.

-Frank

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Carl_D on Jul 19th, 2004, 3:24pm
Big fucking ditto here Frank. Was great to finally meet you man.

Peace,
Carl D

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 19th, 2004, 3:34pm
Carl, I was so glad to meet you too... You are an amazingly talented man. I'm lovin' the CD's! Thank you! Hang tough, bro'. [smiley=hug.gif] 8)

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by TxBasslady on Jul 19th, 2004, 6:02pm
Frank,

It is certainly heartbreaking to witness someone in the midst of a CH attack.

However....now you have witnessed it from both sides.
In alot of ways, I think it makes us stronger.  We suffer and we can support.  

It also gives us a bit of insight as to how our supporters feel when we are battling with the beast.  It's an education sort of.  I think alot of supporters would and could understand better if they too witnessed another (other than their wife or hubby) in the throws.  I know that my husband's heart breaks when he sits with me and tries to figure out how in the world to stop the pain.  He made the meet & greet in Dallas last Feb, and witnessed Tracey getting hit.  Now he knows that he can do nothing to stop the pain and he witnessed the love and compassion between sufferers.  Yes, it still upset him, but he was right there for Tracey (as well as others) and offered his support for her, just as he does for me.   This is what this family is all about.  

The meet & greets and the conventions have so much to offer both sufferer and supporter.  I think we learn alot, and we bond together the love and friendship that was previously just words on a computer monitor.

We're all in this boat together.....and it takes all of us to keep it moving.

You can bet the rest of us are rowing with you.

Jean


Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Kevin_M on Jul 19th, 2004, 6:17pm

on 07/19/04 at 13:42:34, Jeepgun wrote:
I am also determined to keep CH from taking over my life, and to marginalize it as much as I possibly can, so that it has little/no impact on my personal quality of life, and the quality of life of my family.


Everyday, no matter what.  Always get back up again.
Ata boy Frank, great post.  

Kevin M

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 19th, 2004, 10:34pm
Thank you, Jean and Kevin... I am so grateful for this site, for this family, for O.U.C.H... Sometimes, words are just too inadequate... From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Carl_D on Jul 19th, 2004, 11:04pm

on 07/19/04 at 18:02:20, TxBasslady wrote:
However....now you have witnessed it from both sides.
In alot of ways, I think it makes us stronger.  We suffer and we can support...
...The meet & greets and the conventions have so much to offer both sufferer and supporter.  I think we learn alot, and we bond together the love and friendship that was previously just words on a computer monitor.

We're all in this boat together.....and it takes all of us to keep it moving.

You can bet the rest of us are rowing with you.


Jean, you hit the nail on the head pretty hard there. No one can fathom what this convention has done to me.
It has given me incredible strength to say "I will face this beast, and whatsoever wicked this way comes. I am not alone, as I have many brothers and sisters who must endure the pain too. Alone I could not do this, but in numbers there is great strength. Nothing can ever break the bond that has brought us all together."

Love you all,
Carl D


Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by DaveHar on Jul 19th, 2004, 11:34pm
This is proably the only thread that has hit me this hard. Jean and Frank you have said allot in so few words. This was my very first convention and I can not wait to get to another. Many eyes were opened, OUCH has a group now that I feel wants to move forward and is doing things to make it happen, Many thanks go out to Dave E, Dan, Svenn, and Cat and many more.

In my eyes you have given OUCH a purpose and a reason for me to stay on board. Before the convention I had made a comment to DaveE that this was going to be the last thing I ever did with OUCH and that I was gone. I would see the convention to the end and then I was going to leave. Now I feel a purpose and a reason to stay, OUCH is not just a dying thing but a real goup that is moving forward.

Dave

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Charlie on Jul 20th, 2004, 2:43am

Quote:
Many eyes were opened, OUCH has a group now that I feel wants to move forward and is doing things to make it happen, Many thanks go out to Dave E, Dan, Svenn, and Cat and many more


OUCH is moving in the right direction thank to these characters. It's gonna be.....uh a bit different perhaps  8)

You loons are a quite a bunch. Wish I wre as sharp.

Charlie

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 20th, 2004, 11:16am
Charlie, it was just wonderful to meet you. I enjoyed hanging out with you and talking. You are a good man. Thank you for coming to the convention.

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Luke63 on Jul 20th, 2004, 12:24pm

on 07/19/04 at 13:42:34, Jeepgun wrote:
Picking up the biggest damn oar I can find, and rowing my heart out...
I'm getting mine out also and diggin in too!!!!  Luke

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by ozzman on Jul 20th, 2004, 12:52pm
I think it has been well said above, this was my first convention, had met numerous people before, so I already knew what it felt like not to be alone.

Frank hit it right on, the convention gave me a different perspective. It validated many personal beliefs. Most of all I realize the strength we all share in dealing in our personal ways with this disease. We are like soldiers, laughing, crying, (drinking) together, but most of all ready to pick up the fallen ones, so that we may battle agianst our common enemy.

The convention was everything I thought and more.

thank you all.

Ozzy

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Cathi04 on Jul 20th, 2004, 2:50pm
Frank....well put!
Please, however, remember, you, too, put forth a HUGE amount of effort! Your oar was in the water the entire time!
You are an awesome person, Jeep..and I am so glad I got to meet you..your energy, your wit...and your soul...hmmm..come to think of it....isnt that in the definition of a clusterhead? I will NEVER forget this weekend, and the people I met.

Cathi

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 20th, 2004, 3:00pm
I've been accused of not having both oars in the water...  [smiley=laugh.gif] Thank you, Cathi. It has been written that we cannot recognize in others that which is not first present within ourselves, so if I mirrored your own wonderful qualities back to you, then I am humbled and grateful. Thank you...

With Love,
-Frank

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Woobie on Jul 20th, 2004, 4:30pm
Dammit Man!!!!!!!!   :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 20th, 2004, 4:37pm
*HUGGGGGGGGS* Woobie!! I loved hanging out with you and Ramon... (You're going to have to take that Mountain Dew outside, though.)  ;;D

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by alleyoop on Jul 20th, 2004, 4:51pm

on 07/20/04 at 12:52:46, ozzman wrote:
Frank hit it right on, the convention gave me a different perspective. It validated many personal beliefs. Most of all I realize the strength we all share in dealing in our personal ways with this disease. We are like soldiers, laughing, crying, (drinking) together, but most of all ready to pick up the fallen ones, so that we may battle agianst our common enemy.

The convention was everything I thought and more.

thank you all.

Ozzy


THAT SAID IT ALL FOR ME!!!

THANKS GUYS AND GALS!! THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!



.........................................alley

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Melissa on Jul 20th, 2004, 5:22pm
Frank, even though we weren't able to spend much time together to talk, I feel I am lucky to have gotten to know you on Yahoo IM.  It was great to finally meet you face to face, and damn if I didn't forget to offer you a Xanax. :P  Anyhow, I think you'll be attending future meet and greets and conventions, cause they are quite addicting, so I'll be able to spend some time with ya then.  I am glad you came and enjoyed reading your reflection of it all, especially since it was your 1st one.

HUGS to you dear,
:)mel

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 20th, 2004, 5:26pm
Thanks, Ozzy and Alleyoop. Oz, nicely stated...

Mel, it was great meeting you face2face. And yeah, I'll be at every function I can possibly attend. Not only for my own benefit, but because Clusterheads are the finest, strongest, bravest, and greatest group of people I have ever had the privilege of meeting.

[smiley=hug.gif]:)

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Redd715 on Jul 20th, 2004, 8:53pm
All I can say right this moment is that I'm crying again....(go figure huh?)  

I wanted to try to put my feelings into words but I'm way too emotional again to do it.  Everything is just swimming.  I hope I can recover from this and actually make sence of what I need to say...I have so much I want to express and afraid that I won't be able to get it out right.  

Time to try to buck up and gather my thoughts.

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Edna on Jul 21st, 2004, 12:23am
Frank!!!!!!   Thank you man!!!!    

It was great meeting you, and hanging out with you for supper on Friday night.  I can still hear that wonderful laughter of yours that kept my daughter Kali and I in stitches.

Never apologize for the lenght of your post dude.......it's wonderful stuff.

Thank you, for being part of MY first convention too.

hugs,
EDNA

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by fubar on Jul 21st, 2004, 12:25am
I even missed my cajun mama... i am so f'ing depressed

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by suzy617 on Jul 21st, 2004, 4:36am
Jeep, it was great sharing a few drinks with you.  (well maybe a little more then a few  ;;D )

I'll be thinking of ya as I scuba the Aruba waters....

http://tinyurl.com/67ay8

Suzy

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 21st, 2004, 10:30am
Edna, it was great meeting you too! I was sitting in the bar on Saturday, watching all of you shoot pool, and thought, "What a beautiful family..." Your closeness and love for each other is a priceless and beautiful thing.

Suzy, next year I'm going to bring my guitar, and after we get sufficiently wrecked, we can pound out some Guns 'n' Roses songs. LOL

Pegg: [smiley=hug.gif] Your energy just lit up the place!!  :)

Much Love,
-Frank

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Edna on Jul 22nd, 2004, 12:35am
Frank, thank you.

Just know that you're one heck of a special guy to us all now.


I miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

soooooo.............. go check your mail

hugs,
EDNA

Title: Re: Nashcon: Personal Results
Post by Charlie on Jul 22nd, 2004, 12:39am
What can I say?

You guys.....

Charlie



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