Posted by Barbara D. (205.188.199.34) on July 29, 1999 at 20:33:01:
Getting to Rochester was an "experience", but that's an entirely seperate post later.
Upon arrival in Rochester, I immediately began to look for a blonde man, 6' tall with blue eyes. (I was carrying a sign saying, "Drummer Find Me NOW!!!")Immeditely found two 'close' matches, but one look in their eyes (never mind the fact that they read my sign and totally ignored me) I knew THEY were NOT Dave. But then another one walked up and before he read my sign, I yelled "Drummer!" Don't even know if he answered - we were too busy hugging.
Minutes later I met Laurie (or Saint Laurie as we came to know her) and two angels (most of the time)Megan, 6 and Sara 2. I loved Megan on sight because of her red hair and Sara wrapped me up completely when she said, "Barbara" (BaBa is close enough).
By the time we got to the motel we were lifelong friends. (I never noticed people in the lobby). I was registering when someone blew on my neck and said, "Hi Mom". Before I even turned around I yelled "Kip" and then we were hugging. Behind him stood Todd (no doubt at all). I took one look at him and said, "You're much taller on the Internet!" and we were hugging. With Elaine and Heather it was the same. Later I said the bonding took about 5 seconds, but Kip disagreed - he thought it was much faster.
After I had a quick shower and a change of clothes (which everyone was grateful for) we took off for Dave's garage (our official meeting place). Dave DOES have a house attached to his garage, but somehow the garage was where we all stayed most of the time.
A little later, Cathy and Peter arrived. We knew Peter had some misgivings about coming to Dave's and meeting who knows what type of people (my kids were worried about a Charlie Manson follower), so we had a pool going on whether he would even get out of the car. Of course he did and after a couple of hours jumped right in and started insulting us all. It was great.
Finally sometime during the later part of the evening we got pizza and chicken wings (oh I think we did eat earlier too - can't really remember). After all day of "non-stop" talking and "really" getting to know each other - (Did anyone know that Todd even safety pins his socks together when he takes them off at night? Now that's organized! Dave recycles - or Laurie does. Kip has this thing for dogs and dolphins (but that's another story) and Elaine - oh yeah I promised to never repeat that one didn't I?) it was midnight and we started back to the hotel, when we missed Kip. He was sucking O2.
Being a supporter SUCKS! I took one look at Kip's face and went into shock. I've seen that look in the mirror too many many times. The first thing I did was ask, "Are you alright?" Being the gentleman he is, Kip replied, "Don't worry, I'm fine. (that does start with an "F" doesn't it!). I knew the minute I asked that wasn''t what to do, but it was just instinct. And when I looked around, Elaine was at about an 8. I reached over to rub her back and remembered just as I touched her "DON'T". I have a LOT more respect for supporters today than I did a week ago. It's as hard as having the HA (in a different way).
Sunday: After a few hours sleep (I forgot to say that the hotel put us all on the same floor - good idea)I wandered down the hall looking for a coffee pot. Luckily Kip and Elaine both had coffee - kept me from going to the lobby in my jammies for a cup - it's NOT morning until after my coffee. After my eyes came open (about two cups of coffee later) I got angry at Todd for leaving without telling me goodbye (Todd you can expect an e-mail to that affect). But we all loaded up and went back to Dave's garage where we resumed our "talking" and talking and talking. Then the unimaginable happened.
Kip's wife, Judy, quit breathing on us and turned blue (navy blue). After about 10 hours (I think the time frame was actually about 10 minutes) we had her breathing again (Kip has already explained the Crotchlift Manuver)and the paramedics arrived, then the ambulance arrived, then another ambulance arrived, then more paramedics arrived and .... The nice paramedic was asking Judy all kinds of questions when he asked if she hurt anywhere. She looked up at him and quitely said, "I have a headache." Sorry, I had to walk off and crack up laughing at that one. I told her later, she'd just been listening to enirely too much "headache" talk and should be more original.
The rest of the evening was spent in the ER at the local General Hospital. I was so embarrased. Now Kip and Judy have been married all their lives and they were "necking" in the ER. Had to call them down twice! Of course, I had to call them down in Dave's garage a few times too. Just can't keep their hands off each other. The doctor wouldn't let Judy go back to the motel, so she spent the night in Short Term Care and Kip and I called Dave to come get us.
When Dave and Elaine showed up Kip and I were about to "pass" from hunger, so after a fashion Dave found a restaurant and we ordered dinner. About the time the food arrived, Elaine had to leave (yep, the demon knew we were enjoying our dinner), so I ordered a cheesecake to go (thought I might need the strength later on).
Monday: More of the same except Laurie cooked a wonderful dinner (she even used the oven and stove - I wondered what those things were for!). After dinner we retreated back to the meeting room and were laughing and talking when the mask came over Dave's face. He left for the O2. When he came back I recognized the exhaustion. It was so strange to see CH in others and know "first hand" there is not a darn thing you can do to help them.
Late into the evening, we KNEW Judy was tired and that Dave and Laurie had to get up at 5am to go back to work, but no one wanted to leave. We finally forced ourselves to leave the garage, but it was a sad parting. As we were hugging Dave and Laurie, it was rather quite cause no one could say much with the lumpy throats.
Tuesday: Time to go home. Elaine drove Kip, Judy and I to the airport and after a couple of very serious hugs, I told her to get the H*** out of there before she had us all crying (at this point Kip, Judy and I are still hanging tuff!). The three of us stood outside and smoked, didn't say a whole lot, but as Kip and Judy's departure time got closer, the lumpy throats got lumpier.It was one of the hardest goodbyes's I've ever experienced. Maybe I'm NOT as tough an old broad as I'd like everyone to think, but we finally let go of each other and I told them to get the heck on that darn plane and quit telling me goodbye. I was getting tired of all that mushy stuff!
There are really not any words to describe the Weekend in Dave's Garage. Maybe AWESOME comes close. But I will say to everyone reading this board - save your nickles, dimes, and quarters, put a second mortgage on the house, sell the kids or whatever you have to do, but DO NOT miss the convention next August. My doc told me before I left that this trip would probably do me more good than anything he could give me and for once he was 1000% right. I feel better right now than I've felt in the last two years and I had a headache two hours ago.
A BIG hug and thanks to Dave and Laurie for having us. A lot of love to Megan and Sara for being "normal" kids even with a Clusterhead for a father (of course they have a Saint for a mother!) and an extra big thanks to all the Clusterheads who gathered in Dave's Garage. That's all I'm gonna say (and aren't you all glad!). That damn lump is back (maybe it's just a side effect of CH) and I can't type clear any more.
lcb, get the gang in SF together. I'm coming out there to straighten you guys out just as soon as you give me the date.
Hugs BD (Mom)