Have you met Forum AN'ers in ways other than the Forums/Support Groups?

[ppearl214]

Ok, just wanted to see how many of you have met AN'ers from the forums in other ways other than the Discussion Forums or ANA Support Groups/ANA symposiums....

Example...... many of you know that jcinma/Jane and myself host Discussion Forum brunches a couple of times/yr locally, to bring together AN'ers in a casual (ie: "fattening") environment....... but, have also met AN'ers in other wonderful ways.

Further example......

VERY first AN'er from forums that I met was CrazyKat/Paul, at Starbucks (eventually, we got booted out so they could close), moved to Dunkin Donuts. Here we were, at 8pm-ish, standing in the parking lot, reviewing each other's MRI's.

Flew to ATL on family visit. Had the wonderful chance to meet CindyJ and Brucifer (Man, do I miss him!) over lunch with my bloke!

Today, going to the headache dr and who will be there at her appt just before mine? SML/Scarlett and lovely husband Rich.  Will either do coffee or lunch.

JoeF came locally to make one of his kayak purchases a few miles from where I live.... had the chance to do breakfast with him and my bloke.

Flew to the UK for my mother-in-law's milestone birthday.... lives in a tiny village approx 2 hrs outside London.  Yep, met Forum AN'ers on that trip as well.

So, all in all, there has been terrific opps to meet other Forumites over time.... and it has brought me such joy to meet others so casually, to compare notes, share laughs/smiles/stories/hugglez.  What a world of difference it has brought to meet to meet others that "walk in our shoes".

So....... have YOU had the chance to meet other AN'ers in ways you least expected and what kind of impact did it make on you to be able to meet others face to face?  I recognize that some of you may live in areas that is difficult to meet others and hoping you do get to meet others soon.

Phyl

[tenai98]

Yes, I met Cindy J while in Florida on Vacation
Jo

[ppearl214]

Yes, I met Cindy J while in Florida on Vacation
Jo

Jo,
Cindy's great, isn't she?   Sorry I couldn't have joined you all.  Just met up with SML/Scarlett and Rich at the dr's office... then found great place for burgers.  Delightful lunch and was terrific to spend time with them!

Phyl

[Kaybo]

Of course I have to answer this. I LOVE to meet my "fictious friends" from the Forum in real life. Aside from the many wonderful friends I met at the Chicago Symposium, I have been blessed to meet many more. All of this is a wonderful blessing for me, especially considering that I went 12 YEARS before I ever even spoke to another AN patient!!  I have also talked to numerous people on the phone.  I hope I don't leave anyone out:

Tim (Migoli?) came thru Amarillo on his way to Houston (before we moved).  We had a wonderful dinner & the girlies loved him!! Dave & I were able to meet Cyrilee at the Symposium...hoping to see them sometime in the near future!

Met up with Brian (Pooter), Priscilla (msmaggie), Brenda (brendalu) & the guy  that I can NEVER remember his name for lunch when we were in Houston for Christmas one year. Since I have moved here, sweet Ms Priscilla has been my own personal angel!! Aside from the time she came over to my in-laws (where we were temporarily living) to visit last summer, she came twice to help when we were moving into our house (& brought dinner) and then came running to my rescue a couple of weeks ago after my surgery!! We have done lunches other times too & are still looking for the times when we can REALLY get into some trouble!!!

Maureen (Moe) came to Texas a little over a month ago and I drove out to meet her. We had a wonderful visit!! It ended way too soon but I was leaving town that weekend & couldn't go back - would have loved to watch her son dive!  Hopefully, we get together again sometime, especially if/when she moves back to Texas!!

I am to meet with Dale (dalern) for dinner on June 6th and am so excited!

Was supposed to meet up with Donnalynn when I was in Canada last year but didn't work out (darn!). Thought we were going back this year but didn't make it. We're going to keep trying though!!

Seems like there should be more but I guess there were SO many at the Symposium...what great friends I've made thru this site!  My friend started a Down syndrome support group in Amarillo - they call other DS people "cousins" b/c they all look somewhat alike. I think we are all cousins b/c we have so much in common...& some of us even have matching faces!!

K

[Jim Scott]

Phyl ~

I've met many ANers - including you - at the semi-annual brunch held at  Maxwell's Toolhouse in Worcester, Massachusetts - but that's about it.   We don't do much traveling and there are very few ANers in my state (Joe F. is an exception).  We met Liz ('Lizard') and her husband at the October, 2009 AN brunch and had hoped to meet them locally (they live a few towns over) for lunch one day - but, as sometimes happens, we just never quite got around to it.  I did run into a lady who had AN surgery about a decade before my diagnosis.  We met her and her husband a year or so after my AN surgery at a marriage seminar our church was sponsoring.  Unfortunately, she'd developed facial paralysis post-op and it was never really addressed or resolved.  I almost felt guilty telling her about my good surgical & radiation outcome - but she seemed genuinely interested.  I've seen her once since then, very briefly (leaving a mutual friend's home).  That's the extent of my meeting fellow ANers outside of the ANA forums.  However, I feel as if I've 'met' hundreds of AN patients over the past five years through these forums and I'm grateful to have been able to do so (and even help a few along the way).         

Jim

[ppearl214]

K and Jim,

Great to hear that you all enjoy beyond the forums!

Shame on me... I forgot Mark and his loverly wife, with whom I had dinner last year during a business trip to N. CA.  Mark was my mentor here on the forums, as well as my guidance for Cyberknife.  Shame on me for forgetting to note him and our dinner last year.

Phyl

[leapyrtwins]

Yes.

I met Patrick and his wife last year when they came to Chicago on vacation.

I met Barb when I went to Seattle last August for business.

I met Anna Maria and her husband for dinner last July when I was in New Jersey for vacation.  I met Wendy on a beach in New Jersey during that same vacation.

And, coincidentally, I'm meeting Dale tonight for dinner; she's in the Chicago area on a trip.

Jan

[Tod]

Mei Mei and I met for lunch when she and her family visited Richmond back in February.

And my home is always hope for anyone here who wishes to stop by.

-Tod

[Cheryl R]

I only have met people who have been on here and then to the symposiums.          Oh except for one WI lady who was on here long ago and we met when we were in Madison and she came to meet me.    That was some time ago but we have remained friends.      There some post symposium people who keep in good touch with.    They are not on here anymore either.    Plus 3 Iowa ANers who have got to meet.    I still keep in touch with 2 plus one I haven't met.                  I have enjoyed getting to know other ANers and getting to be of help to new ones.                       I would long gone from here if it wasn't my having the NF2 and hopefully done with surgery!                        Cheryl R

[HeadCase2]

My wife and I were able to meet a few other AN patients at the Hospital before and after treatment. 

[Denise S]

Haven't got to meet anyone in person, yet.  BUT have many of new, great friends on Facebook.    With FB, it is like they are so much closer and you get to know them even better on many aspects vs. just the 'tumor' stuff.   Many of us have been great support for each other in many aspects in life....mostly being able to send many thoughts or pray for them or be happy, etc. with other events.     Feels like I have actually met many of them and they are like some of my ole schoolmates or something 

Denise (MI)

[ppearl214]

Ya know... I KNEW these forums would reach out far beyond what we write/share here.... and that special "kinships" are made, whether in person, on the phones, other sites, etc.....  speaks volumes for what these forums do for us all!

Phyl

[lori67]

I've only gotten to meet a few people at my brief visit to the Chicago symposium - but keep in touch with quite a few via the forum, Facebook, e-mails and phone calls. 

I think you guys all need to make it a point to come to Virginia Beach!!   

Lori

[Kaybo]

I am coming,Lori, I am...I promise!!

Some of my best buds & super support (not for AN but for my crazy life lately!) are from this wonderful group of people!  You know who you are & I love you...wouldn't have made it lately without you!!

K 

[opp2]

I've met Adrienne, and a couple of folks who don't come on here often, if at all, and then some that have...yardtick, and there may be a couple of more that i've met at Toronto support group meetings. I really want to go to next Tuesday's meeting but I'll be away on training so it won't workout. I do keep in contact with a few ANers from here on FB.