Ten years ago today

Joyce, I think about the Louisville trip often. I will still not fly through Chicago Ord!!! =) THAT was a nightmare! I was so bummed for missing an entire day of the trip with everyone, but I loved being there anyway! Such fun and love. Congratulations on 10 YEARS!! Happy dancin" for you!!

Love, Gail

Congratulations on 10 years!  That is such a milestone.  I have heard so many wonderful stories about the gatherings.  I wish another one could be arranged.  I would love to meet you all in person to thank you for being there for me, too.

 

Have a HUGE celebration!!!

My dear sweet Joyce... 10 years WOW !!!!! I am so thrilled that you are here sharing so much love,

tears and laughter and knowledge with me and so many of our  "Sisters". ..You have gotten me through

so many bad days !! Thank You...

 

Your 10 year milestone is so wonderful...It has at times been a rough road, but you are such a

strong woman and a strong fighter, never once did I doubt that you wouldnt/couldnt pull through

the difficult times.

 

Also, Louisville and ALL the gathering were wonderful...!! Sweet memories...

 

Thank you for all you have done for me, let alone the rest of the board.

 

Love and Hugs to you & Vic

 

Cathi

Wow!  Ten Years.  What a milestone.  I am so happy you are celebrating this.  This brings me back to seeing those great ladies waiting for me at the airport.  I wasn't sure what I was in for, coming to a weekend with women I had never seen before!  Well, the zany ladies succeeded in making it all ok.

 

I just heard about Fran's recurrance, though.  I'm praying for her and for all of us.  MK, guilt shouldn't be part of your picture, girl.  You have given to excess!!!!!  Cathi, I have the pics of you and your quilt in L-Ville and still look at the L-ville pictures.  I'll never forget that "special reserve" jack daniels "OOHHH green label!"  I finally told my husband that it was rotguttier than black, had to!  It was too funny to keep to myself.  there I am with the owner of Jack Daniels all excited about having gotten him some 'special reserve' when it was really the cheaper stuff!  He was so gracious, though. Fran's husband.  She and her family are in my prayers today! 

 

Let's all pray for each other and think good thoughts.  Please!!!!!  Let's all be well today!

You have to admit we have been quite a crew. I still remember picking up Ellen, MK knew her right away. Poor Vic driving around a strange town, no idea where we are going. Anyone that knows Vic, knows he plans everything. Routes being a major plan and suddenly he is in a car racing for an airport to meet people we had no clue what they looked like. Still trying to remember who it was that said she would be the one with only one boob. Talk about a blonde moment.tee hee All I could think of was to hang a lemon around my neck and hope incoming friends would connect the lemon with lemonz. But being women naturally all turned out well. I can still remember all the pretty decorating Betty did to the hotel. That poor girl at the desk was a really good sport. I just wonder how many of us remembered to e mail her. I think the blondest thing I did on that trip was when we were going out to eat, Vic said we better hurry, Sara's husband is in the car, we rush out and jump in the back and he just looks and starts the car and next thing I know he is calling Sara to tell her he has her passengers. I did not know, she had her car there also. Talk about embarrassed, but I must say she is married to one fabulous guy. He was the best tour director. I learned more about Louisville during that ride that I could have learned reading all day. Then after lunch we got in the car with Sara and we were going to Churchill Downs and got lost. She hands me her GPS and says "do you know how to work one of these?"First one I had ever seen back then. Who knew Churchill was hidden inside the town. Candy, I agree with you, the newbies should figure out how to meet, bond and pull each other through this. Women have a remarkable ability to really be there when we need each other. When you have met, it only makes it stronger. Kathy maybe you can organize the newbies and figure out something. Believe me its a trip you will never forget. I will always be so glad I was able to make that gathering. I will never forget that feeling of sharing we all had. Thankfully, from there, I was able to go up to Indiana and meet Shell. I am forever grateful that the ladies made the gathering that close to her house. A few hours and I got to deliver a hug in person from all of us, as she was to ill to make it to Louisville. I am also soooooo happy that I went because I got to meet Cathi, I have no idea how I would have done without her. She is so level headed. I am waiting for a bill for all the advice she has given me. None of these close relationships would have been possible without a gathering and I strongly recommend the newbies think about it. Its so nice when you see a post from someone and you can picture their face and the wonderful smiles and jokes and the great time we had. I know I am not alone when I say we really enjoyed every minute. I really had my blonde moment when I was staying at a hotel outside of South Bend and went to pay my bill and she offered me a discount on any mid western hotel. I told her I never drive in the midwest, and she turned and informed me I was in the midwest. Who knew! I thought midwest was out west. Of course it was graduation day for Notre Dame and every parent was standing there listening to this not so intelligent person making a fool of herself yet again. LOL Bev you were really a pleasure to meet. Now every time I read your posts I think of you and your wonderful smile. These are the things that make a gathering so special. I hope all the newbies get to experience it. Thanks to all of you for posting your congrats and I know Jo-Ann would have posted that story she has been promising if her dinosaur had not expired. I know all of us are knocked just a little bit harder because we got to met Fran and her wonderful family. Love to all Joyce

I truelly hope that I can form this great bond with someone as you all have done. I don't have breast cancer, I have squamous cell carcinoma, which scares me to bits. But this to I shall over come!!!! Just reading your comments has made me feel so much better, and even though I don't have breast cancer my mother did and is fixing to celebrate her 20th birthday of being cancer free. GLORY TO GOD!!! I'm so glad you ladies have such a wonderful friendship. Sounds like you all have helped one another through the good and the bad. It's just wonderful to read such kind words. And I can't wait to continue reading all the stories of hope and most especially those of you who post you are cancer freeeeeeee.

Ten wonderful glorious life-changing years! Congratulations my dearest friend. Both you and Vic have provided me with so many Deere memories. I have our St Louis picture by my pc and rejoice at those still here and tear up at those who have gone on. I wish you a decade of ten-year anniversaries and send the warmest of hugs to both of you just for being the wonderful people that you are.

I agree that the new members should arrange a meet. The inspiration it will provide would be priceless. It is a heart-healing feeling just to be able to put a name to a face and to know that this new person not only knows what you've gone through but you know their story as well. Only one survivor can know the arduous journey another is walking.

Joyce, I lost the fire ant story years ago. I have not been able to find a copy anywhere. I must admit that my favorite personal story was the serial killer. Alas, this too has been lost.

A dumb question, but I wonder if anyway videoed any of our meets. I would love to get whatever footage there is and combine them to one we could all share.

Let me also say that I will treasure forever the friendship and love all of you have shown to me. In some of the most darkest times of my life, you were all there for me and my heart knew it. In tough times and happy times, I will forever believe that God led us to one another for a reason. I now know what that reason was. You have all kept me alive.

God Bless all of you.

Love, Jo-Ann