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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
        
(Message started by: artonio7 on Sep 29^th, 2007, 6:57am)

Title: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by artonio7 on Sep 29^th, 2007, 6:57am

So very sorry for not checking in sooner... I needed the time to unwind and recompose from the trip of my life.

First of all... I want to thank all of you who have expressed good luck and warm wishes while we were in Norway. Knowing that I have so many brothers and sisters from this group around the world helps me to feel safe and gives me a sense of belonging. I only have one regret about the trip; I regret deeply that you were not all there with us.

I have to also express a huge debt of gratitude to my brother Chuck. His kindness, encouragement and adventurous spirit made this trip possible for me and his unending humanity has helped me to leave my prison and begin to live my life again. There will always be a special place in my heart for Chuck and he is always welcome in my home.

Being witth Svenn and Bente was like being with family in the truest sense. There was an immediate connection and familiarity. I'll never forget walking into the front entrance of the Thorn residence and being overwhelmed with the aroma of freshly baked biscuits. Bente is a beautiful, kind, loving person with a keen understanding of the human condition and the incredible ability to sooth and comfort. The language barrier did not impede our understanding of each other. Besides being a gracious hostess, Bente gives a kick-ass massage and if that don't cure you, her infectious laughter will.

Svenn, you are the type of father figure I admire. Your generosity and kindness in spite of your afflictions and day to day struggle are inspiring. I was not surprised to see how deeply you are loved and respected by the members of Clustercompagniet. Your sons, Stein Ivar and Hans Jørgen are very fortunate to have you and Bente as parents and they both turned out to be wonderful young men. Spending time with Hans Jørgen and Magdalene was like being with my favorite nieces and nephews... they are both sweet and loving souls.

The Headache Symposium sponsored and compiled by Clustercompagniet was a huge success! The members are as I suspected loyal, kind, helpful and peace loving. Their passion for finding new information and treatments as well as sharing the information was clearly evident throughout my interaction with all of them. It goes without saying that regardless of where on this earth you may be.... meeting another clusterhead is always the same... immediate fellowship!

Travellling to Norway exposed me to many things that I was not familiar with.... our cultures have many subtle difference... all was good....
being so far from home also showed me something else that I will always remember.... love transcends any boarder or cultural difference. I am honored to have experienced the love and kindness that my brothers and sisters of Norway have shown me.

If you are interested in seeing practically all of the pictures of our trip here is a link... http://artonio7.com/norway_2007/

with warm regards,
Tony

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by barry_sword on Sep 29^th, 2007, 8:15am

Thank you so much for sharing with us Tony. The pics were awesome.

Barry :)

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by sandie99 on Sep 29^th, 2007, 8:26am

Tony,

it's been a pleasure to follow your trip. And with all the pics you guys practically took us there with you. :)

I've been looking at all your pics and I love them! It's good to find someone who takes even more pics than I do. ;) The trouble is that it nearly makes me want to pack my suitcase and bug Svenn with a visit... [smiley=laugh.gif]

Thank you for sharing your pics, Tony. :)

Hugs,
Sanna

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by Lotus on Sep 29^th, 2007, 8:36am

You four ( Tony, Chuck, Svenn and Bente) made me speechless with your beautiful souls so I will just send a big hug ... No words are enough ....

:-* :-* :-*

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by assaultme on Sep 29^th, 2007, 10:54am

Man Tony !!! The picture of what appeared to me to be a cathedral was beautiful !!!

Sounds like you & Chuck had a blast !!!
Cheers, Dave

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by Jonny on Sep 29^th, 2007, 1:24pm

Great post, Tony....and excelent pics!

Whats with this mask?.....it has no bag, something new?

http://artonio7.com/norway_2007/oslo_03/Thumbnails/18.jpg

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by Ray on Sep 29^th, 2007, 1:30pm

Jonny:

It appears to be a demand regulator, the one that works like a scuba regulator. When you breathe in (demand) the O2 flows until you stop breathing in, then the O2 stops.

Ray

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by Ray on Sep 29^th, 2007, 1:37pm

Tony:

Although I am still green with envy of this trip, it sounds like you had an unforgettable experience. Thanks for sharing the photographs with your cluster family here.

Ray

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 29^th, 2007, 1:38pm

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the trip. The pictures almost made me feel like I was there. There is nothing like little blond Vikings is there ;;D Beautiful country, beautiful people. It looks like the trip of a lifetime. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by Jonny on Sep 29^th, 2007, 2:26pm

on 09/29/07 at 13:30:52, Ray wrote:

Jonny:

It appears to be a demand regulator, the one that works like a scuba regulator. When you breathe in (demand) the O2 flows until you stop breathing in, then the O2 stops.

Ray

Thanks, Ray......that thing is state of the art.......I gots to have one!! ;)

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by Rosybabe on Sep 29^th, 2007, 2:42pm

Oh Tony, your pictures are wonderful, they made me want to go there too :)...Hubby is in trouble now ;;D

Hey, where did you get that mask? I only have a regular scuba mask, that won't work and don't look like that either...

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by sandie99 on Sep 29^th, 2007, 2:44pm

Looks like a bunch of us will be travelling to Norway to bother Svenn & Bente one day! ;;D

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 29^th, 2007, 2:53pm

on 09/29/07 at 14:26:40, Jonny wrote:

Thanks, Ray......that thing is state of the art.......I gots to have one!! ;)

Uh oh. Jonny has a case of regulator envy ;;D

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by Jonny on Sep 29^th, 2007, 3:01pm

on 09/29/07 at 14:53:32, DennisM1045 wrote:

Uh oh. Jonny has a case of regulator envy ;;D

Yeah, and its a bitch dude....because my gas supplier is closed till Monday. >:(

LOL ;;D

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 29^th, 2007, 3:07pm

on 09/29/07 at 15:01:18, Jonny wrote:

Yeah, and its a bitch dude....because my gas supplier is closed till Monday. >:(

LOL ;;D

Let's see ya fab one of those! [smiley=laugh.gif]

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by The mad viking on Sep 30^th, 2007, 10:30am

Have tears in my eyes here Tony my brother.Really hope to see you soon

Svenn & Bente

Title: Re: Tousen Takk (sp) A thousand Thanks
Post by ClusterChuck on Oct 2^nd, 2007, 10:03pm

on 09/29/07 at 06:57:43, artonio7 wrote:

I have to also express a huge debt of gratitude to my brother Chuck. His kindness, encouragement and adventurous spirit made this trip possible for me and his unending humanity has helped me to leave my prison and begin to live my life again. There will always be a special place in my heart for Chuck and he is always welcome in my home.

Tony, I do not deserve any credit. YOU, my dear friend and brother, deserve ALL the credit! You have no idea how proud I am of you and what you have done! To fight your fear and affliction and leave your home as much as you have, has left me speechless! (And THAT is a hard thing to do!)

You not only left your home to go meet a bunch of total strangers, at the Richmond convention, you left the safety of your home to come and help me when I was in trouble. You worked your ass off when you were here with me. You will never know how much your visit, and work you did here, means to me.

Then you left, not only your home, but your country, to fly to a totally new country and continent, and visit a good fellow cluster brother, but also a whole country of strangers who speak a strange language.

You handled this all with amazing courage and stamina. You never let your past problems stop you from doing these things. You have done all of this, with the added burden of being a chronic clusterhead! That alone has stopped people from doing many of the things you have done in the past few months.

You, my dear friend, are a HERO in my book! I am SO proud and impressed by you! I wish I had even half the courage that you have shown!

Now, back to our trip .. Wasn't it an AWESOME time?? WOW! Svenn and Bente went way beyond the expected to make our visit a memorable one. This was the third time that Svenn, Bente and I have visited each other's home. Each one is more memorable than the last.

Svenn and Bente, Thank you!!!

Chuck