I have my approach -- just waiting for a date

[Debbi]

Hi Alll-

Maybe we could meet up in the City for lunch??  I am about 90 minutes away (sometimes less, depending on how the traffic Gods are feeling)  It would be SO much fun to meet eveyrone!!  We could show off our scars, bahas (for you lucky dogs who have them) and just get silly (not much of a trip for some of us...)  As a former Manhattanite, I could probably recommend something easy and central for lunch (really no such thing as "cheap" in Manhattan, but we can keep it reasonable...)

Oh, I'm liking this idea!!!

Debbi

[jerseygirl]

Debbi,

Sounds great! Let's just wait until this heat wave is over! By the way, I plan to show off my Transear. I hope you are Ok with that!

                  Eve

[lori67]

Oh, Eve, you showoff, you!   

Jan, if your brother is in NJ and doesn't drive fast, then I'd say he had a death wish.  Driving fast in Jersey is merely a survival tactic known by few. Gosh, I miss that...

I know where Summit is - my Dad used to work there.  I don't think I'll be able to make the trek to the city because then I'll be leaving my family with no car and leaving my husband with all the kids!  While that sounds like heaven to me, he may not think so.  But, you never know....I'll keep my options open.

K- Baltimore is only about 3 hours from Seaside!

Lori (I feel like a travel agent...)

[wendysig]

Hi Lori -
I would have shared my ice cream, but it wouldn't go through when I tried to send it.  I'm not sure where Seasiide Heights is, but I think Seagirt is about 1 1/2  hours away from me.  Not a bad drive.  If Spring Lake is close by, I should be able to make it for at least one day.  I spoke to Dr. Choe today and will need to get the pre-testing done ASAP upon my return from Florida so that, unfurtunately that needs to be done first.  My insurance company is refusing to accept his first choice of neurosurgeon (Dr. Bederson) as he is out of network, so now I have to go see yet another doctor.  I googled the latest choice, Dr. Chun Chen, and he sounded just as qualified and maybe even more so.  I'm seeing him on June 19.  Hopefully things will come together pretty quick after that. 

Jan - I've heard of Summit but don't know exacly where it is - somewhere in northen New Jersey,  I think.  Tell your brother to slow down -- life is already too short!

Wendy

[Debbi]

Eve - Yes, I TOTALLY want to see your Transear!  And, hoping to see a BAHA too (Jan???)

Well, I can meet in Summit if that is easier for everyone?  Sea Girt is really far from where I am in the hinterlands of northwestern NJ, but noting is out of the question...

Wendy, I've heard good things about Dr. Chen - I hope you will find that you connect with him, as I know how important that is.  Keep me posted...

[wendysig]

Hi all-
Sounds like everyone is in, hopefully including me -- I love it when a plan comes together.  Hopefully by the end of next week or the beginning of the following week I'll have  a definite date for surgery.  That will tell me what time I have free to meet up with all of you!  I really hope this works out! 

Debbi - I've never heard of Dr. Chen before but Dr. Choe assures me he is a brilliant surgeon. I googled Dr. Chen and his credentials are very impressive.   He also told me Dr. Bederson will still be participating in my surgery too.  How lucky can a girl get?  It sounds like I'm getting an all-star team at a first class hospital.  I'm sure I couldn't be in better hands.  I never did write to Dr. Bederson, I guess I should go do that now while I'm thinking about it.  Talk later.

Wendy

P.S. Hope you are feeling even better today!

[jerseygirl]

Debbi and Wendy,

I cannot do Summit; it is too far from me unfortunately. I can definitely come to the city, though. I am also dying to show my Transear! Yes, Lori, when it comes to the Transear, I am a showoff!
     
              Eve

[Debbi]

I'm in not matter what.  Let's get a date as soon as you have your schedule, Wendy.

So, Willie had a question when I was telling him about our planned get-together - who is doing the seating chart?  We'll need to keep track of who can hear out of what ear!!!      I was laughing so hard when he said that!

I'll scout out some places near Penn Station if that works for everyone? 

Lori, any chance you could take the train up from the Shore?  I can't remember how far south NJ Transit goes, so not sure if that works or not...

Well, gotta go - my lemon IV is calling me...

[jerseygirl]

Wondefrul! I can't wait to see all of you! Debbi, maybe you should post about NYC get together in AN Community section so that everybody can see it and hopefully many more people can join us. Just a suggestion...

                     Eve

[lori67]

Hey, there's always a chance!  I'll look into that.  If not, I may be driving up to North Jersey one day to visit a friend in Wayne who just had a baby ( I was planning on saving that for a rainy day so I won't miss out on beach time!). 

Yes, a seating chart would be a good idea - or we can all bring megaphones so we can make sure we're heard!

Lori

[Debbi]

Okay, I'm posting something on the Community section, so we can start planning a date/location.  Thanks for that suggestion, Eve!

Get your Transears, BAHAs, crooked smiles, wonky heards, non blinking eyes, etc all warmed up!!

Debbi

[Kaybo]

I"M GETTING JEALOUS...............do you see the green coming out of my ears???

K

[Debbi]

If you're going to be in Baltimore - any chance you could take the train up to NYC for the day?  I think it is only about a 3 hour trip, and it leaves you right off at Penn Stn...

Debbi

[wendysig]

Hi all -
This plan is sounding better and better.  I am going to be on needles and pins for the next week and a half or so.  I t would be great if K could get a train from Baltimore and join everyone too.  I'm so excited!  It almost feels like a reunion even though we've never met in person!  Now I have to tell you all about something that happended to me this weekend.  I was at our community pool playing catch in the water with my daughters.  A woman I'd never met came over and asked if she and her daughter could join us.  I said sure the more the merrier.  While we were in the pool she was on my right (AN) side  and after saying what and excues me a few times, I just explained that I was hard of hearing in that ear, but not why.  She was very understanding and didn't seem to mind all my whats and excuse mes after t heat.  When we got out of the pool she introduced me to her husband.  He's not an ANer, but has a BAHA.  What are the chances of that happening?  After we talked for a while I decided to tell them about my AN (this was when I found out he had a degenerative bone disease in his ear, not an AN)  He actually knew what I was talking about though.  In a strange way, it was almost fun to exchange stories.  Anyway we really clicked.  Who would ever think having a hearing problem would lead to making new friends besides all of my fellow ANers!  When life hands you lemons make lemonade!

Wendy

[leapyrtwins]

Wendy -

the man at the pool with the BAHA is probably a bigger coincidence than you realize.  The number of BAHA users in the US is growing, but from what I understand, we are still a minority among deaf people.

Very "cool" story - and not just because of the pool 

Jan