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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Open letter to all CH'ers
        
(Message started by: Sandy_C on Jul 17^th, 2006, 6:04pm)

Title: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by Sandy_C on Jul 17^th, 2006, 6:04pm

I know, it's long. Bear with me. It could have been three pages all by itself!

You just gotta attend a convention! Especially all you newbies (I considered myself one until Milcon). Outside of meeting Beeyul (Bill Mingus - RacerNC) one time, I had never met another clusterhead until Milcon. I was sooo excited to go, yet scared s***less about meeting these crazy people. When I walked in to that hotel there were no polite handshakes saying "Hi there, I'm Joe Clusterhead". You are grabbed in a bear hug, kissed, welcomed beyond belief! It was awesome. I was immediately comfortable, like FAMILY, which this is.

It's also a real education. It put my CH in to perspective with others. I've always known, as an episodic, that my CH suffering was less than others, because I do have quite at bit of pain free time. I'm one of the lucky ones. Being out of cycle during Milcon, I was absolutely blown away witnessing someone else getting hit - and there were many. Happily walking from the bar back to the patio, and seeing Gena holding her head in total agony, seeing Lizzie running out the front door of the hotel and hiking around building I was awestuck at the strength I was witnessing. I had seen the video of Chuck getting hit before, and it was shown again at Milcon, which I couldn't watch without crying. But seeing Chuck hit DURING Milcon up front and personal, hurt so badly especially because he was so excited about the birth of his first grandchild, Maxwell It wasn't fair. I watched others rush to grab the O2 tanks, the ice, whatever to help those in need. Seeing others get hit made me realize how helpless I was to make their pain go away. Made me realize how my husband, and your supporters must feel - helpless. I don't think I've cried that much for someone else in years. It was one of the hardest things I've ever seen, yet it was so uplifting.

Meeting "family" from other countries was soooo wonderful. Svenn and Bente, Wildhaus, and especially Helen and Jasmyn. Helen is exactly what she appears to be on these boards. One of the most knowledgeable clusterheads and absolutely hilarious. I'm starting to gain a whole new language of really cool names to call other people! She's hilarious! I love her dearly and cried like a baby when I had to say goodbye to her. And, Jas, my roommate! Pics do NOT do justice to this woman. She's absolutely gorgeous (I felt like Grandma Moses next to her), and one of the sweetest, most intelligent women I've ever met. I had so much fun just talking with Jas and getting to know her, and totally appreciate the massive effort she made just to get to Milcon.

Meeting DJ and Stephanie! Deej, our founder, our father. He is such a humble man who feels very uncomfortable when we all tell him we owe him our very lives for founding this website. And Stephanie, his absolutely stunning wife, is one of the kindest, friendliest supporter. Deej - you ARE a lucky man!

Saying goodbye to all of these people was so hard. Again, I was crying like a baby (my makeup looked like shit all weekend >:(, but nobody cared. Which works for me ;)

Start making your plans NOW. Block out July 2007 until firm dates are published - you have GOT to be there. I will never forget my first OUCH convention, but it's only the first one of my many years of attendance.

Bottom line, please, please, you gotta go to one.

Sandy

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by sandie99 on Jul 17^th, 2006, 6:27pm

Great post, Sandy! :)

While you & others met at the convention, I got to meet Hirvimäki - that was the first time I got to meet another clusterhead.

Hanging out in here most of my weeks since I signed in, I feel connected to my ch family. Yet, after meeting Paul & his family I truly got the special bond which unites us clusterheads. I call it simply "the clusterconnection". I can't wait to get clustercrazy at a convention!!! ;;D

Meeting Hirv made me realize just how badly I want to meet everybody. You have made huge impact in my life. You have made me laugh, cry, pray, hope, believe, care. This is unique!

Now, I have started to look up information about Richmond. I just checked how I can get there from Finland. It seems that all it takes is around 18 hours on few flights and about 730 euros/910 dollars (plus hotel expenses etc.) to get there.

So all I have to do is to save, blackmail, rob and sell my story ideas to newspapers to get there! ;;D And ask my creative boyfriend (and one great ch supporter! he's truly my rock) for great ideas.

Naturally the question soon becomes... is Richmond ready for one crazy clustergal from Finland...? [smiley=laugh.gif] You tell me.

Best wishes,
Sanna

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by Jackie on Jul 17^th, 2006, 7:08pm

Sandy...you give great advice.....I'm with you and wish every person on this board could attend a convention or gathering. :D

It was a pleasure to meet you.....let's have a drink again soon...... [smiley=hug.gif]

Love to you,
Jackie

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by rickyshot on Jul 17^th, 2006, 9:23pm

Sandy I just loved meeting you. I forgot to mention your name on my thread and you were the first one I met after Brew and rode in the car with me. I am a nimrod. ;)

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by TxBasslady on Jul 17^th, 2006, 10:00pm

Sandy,

'Twas great meeting you.

Bill had told me how nice you are....and he was certainly right.

Thanks so much for all you helped with at convention. I really apprecite it.

Jean

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by Melissa on Jul 17^th, 2006, 10:03pm

Sandy, you are one cool lady! It is so easy to talk to you and I enjoyed chatting with you when I could. Take care of yourself, I want to see you again at next years convention!

Big HUGS,
:)melly

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by lashultz on Jul 18^th, 2006, 12:45pm

Sandy,

You summed it up well.

Lee

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by thomas on Jul 18^th, 2006, 1:47pm

Sandy you are without a doubt a genuine sweet heart.

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by Racer1_NC on Jul 18^th, 2006, 1:57pm

on 07/18/06 at 13:47:13, thomas wrote:

Sandy you are without a doubt a genuine sweet heart.

I second that!

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by Charlie on Jul 18^th, 2006, 9:30pm

I third it.

Great post and a wonderful type peeple.

Charlie

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by LeLimey on Jul 19^th, 2006, 9:39pm

Sandy
I've known for a long time how much I like you. I've read your posts and couldn't wait to meet the mind behind them, I saw the pics from when you met Beeeeeyul and from your vacation in Mexico and I just "knew" you.. all that was lacking was your voice and your hug and I have those firmly treasured in my memory bank now.
The memories in there are more prized than the entire contents of Fort Knox I can tell you :)
I don't know where to start, you rock. You're funny, you're gorgeous, you have the most incredible clothes and jewellery and I am SOOOOO making you take me shopping next year, our tastes are just so similar!
I miss yu so much, I'm not sorry I broke down hanging round your neck just sorry I had to. I bloody well hate goodbyes!
You're one of the big thick threads running right through my lifes tapestry and every thought of you makes me smile
I love you
Helen xxx

Title: Re: Open letter to all CH'ers
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 20^th, 2006, 8:20pm

You make me want it to be July of 2007 already. I cannot wait to go next year and meet all of you wonderful people.