Developing Friendships from this Board

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I was lucky enough to be able to finally meet in person a couple of

women from this board who have become dear friends to me.

& Heidi & I spent last weekend together at Heidi's house in SC.

brought her youngest daughter Lily and I brought my

daughter , and despite the age difference, both of the girls

hit it off also. loves having a new friend.

We ate, drank (non alcoholic for two of us) and talked. Relaxed and

saw the sights and we now have wonderful memories. We talked about

our own stories of developing CP in depth, and even though we have

read each other's stories from this site, it made a difference being

able to listen to the expression put in our descriptions and gave

them even more meaning to the struggles, and the outcomes, some

positive.

We will be friends for life, and will now have a yearly get together

(something I have secretly envied when heard of others having an

annual get togethers).

To Heidi, thankyou so much for opening up your home to us, and to

, thankyou for allowing me to bask in your company also.

To everyone else, I hope that at some time, you may have the good

fortune to be able to meet face to face and enjoy the company of

others on this site...

Ward / TN

[Guest guest]

Wow

That sounds so neat, I can se ehwo it would be so great to do, a

yearly get together awesome. Are you guys all in the same State

hard to judge from downunder over here, know th enames just need

distance locations

I am so glad you all had such a great time you guys are so helpfulk to

everyone on here, you make this board so great

Its teh caring, sharing attitude, and even though we are all miles

away it feels like its close by, I wish that we could do like a webcam

or something chat and see all or some of us from over here or

different parts of the world. I wonder if thats possible

Debs

[Guest guest]

Deb,

Chrissy and Heidi are about a couple of hours apart, I am 7 hours from

Heidi and 6 hours from Chrissy..I enjoyed the drive, and got to see

some lovely countryside.

I think webcam is possible through the chatroom site on this board,

but then it is going to depend on who has a webcam *laugh*

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Being able to meet , (finally), was a treat for me, as we had

already established a good relationship via many emails through the

year, but there's nothing like a personal, face to face experience.

I've made an effort to meet any members in the region as feasible,

usually by phoning or writing to them and arranging a get together.

That's how I've met and from SC and Lily from Ohio.

Living right next door to a resort destination like Hilton Head Island

doesn't hurt. That's what afforded me the chance to meet Lily, when

she and her family were here vacationing three years ago. We

experienced the same bonding when we were able to talk about our

personal histories with chronic pancreatitis in a more personal and

intimate manner. As a result, the two or three days we were able to

meet and talk developed into another relationship that I value dearly,

and I'll always consider Lily a friend for life, too.

I truly enjoyed being able to host and Chrissy and their two

girls last weekend. I had a full house, and we shared some

experiences of our past that we just hadn't been able to discuss on

the MB in any depth before. It was like a " cleansing " experience for

me, and left me with such a greater understanding of the trials that

these two women have experienced in their so very dissimilar histories

with pancreatitis. That was the unigueness of it, although we've gone

through so much in common, our individual experiences with

pancreatitis were all so very different.

I encourage others to do the same! If you live in the same area,

state or region as someone else that you've enjoyed talking to on the

MB, learned something from, or been communicating with off line, make

an effort to meet that person face to face. Meet for lunch, an

overnight stay, or if there's a place of interest or amusement within

resonable distance of each other, arrange to meet and share a few

hours together. I know you won't regret it.

Cyndi tried so hard to help arrange a state meeting earlier in the

year, something that she, Chrissy and I were very enthusiastic about,

but we weren't able to garner enough interest from other members to

make it happen. We met in the chat room twice hoping that others

would stop in and wish to participate. It would have been a wonderful

opportunity for many of us to meet and share our experiences together.

I still hope that we'll be able to do this at a future date.

This year's Symposium will also be an excellent opportunity to develop

new relationships and be educated, as well. It's location in

Indianapolis makes it not that difficult of a destination for so many

of us in this region and the others. There are so many of you that

have traveled to Indy for medical reasons, that you're already familar

with the distance. So I hope that each of you will think about this

as a special opportunity, and made every effort to attend. It might

be possible for some of you to meet in a central location and car

pool, or travel one day, spend the night at a member's house who is

within a few hours drive, and continue on together. There are ways to

make it work if you're willing to look for them.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

Southeastern Reg. Rep., PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.

[Guest guest]

With all the difficulties that this diesease has given me it was very

easy to feel alone and dispondent. I have felt as though I had lost

everything I had ever worked towards. However, I have held steadfast

to my belief that silver linings abound, you just have to look for

them. This board and its members are one of the brightest silver

linings in my life.

I and my youngest daughter had a wonderful time with Heidi and

. We stayed in Heidi's beautiful home with its scenic

vestas only to be outshined by her genuine kindness and hospitality.

From the minute we walked through her front door she treated us as

family. We immediately felt comfortable. She is truly a loving and

compassionate woman as well as extrememly intelligent and giving.

is as wonderful in person as she is on the posts. However,

ya'll dont get the pleasure of hearing her beautiful Aussie accent.

She immediately greeted me with a long warm hug and I felt as though

I was with a sister I had spent my life searching for. Her bright

blue eyes shine as she talked about her life and her family with a

smile that can be seen from accross a crowded room. She exudes a

confidence and grace that is indescribable but shadowed by her deep

love of life and the people in her life. Her daughter , who

will be 4 in a few weeks, is absolutely adorable and glows much the

same as her mother, or Mummy as she puts it. Lilly cried on the way

home because she loved her so and felt she had a baby sister, finally.

We talked long into the night about everything one could imagine and

laughed so much that my jaw was actaully sore Monday morning. I will

sherish this time we had forever and hope that we can meet again and

again. I was unable to do as much as I would have liked for many

reasons, but never for one moment did I feel uncomfortable with

that. My husband was not so comfortable with my going off with

perfect strangers I met on the internet. I am so gald I didn't

listen to him. I would strongly recommend that if any of ya'll ever

get that chance to meet one and other do it. I feel very strongly

that the three of us will remain close friends forever, a friendship

I will treasure.

Warmly,

[Guest guest]

I would love to meet some of the people on this board. I would really like to

get to meet some of the SC people. Let's try and get something together!!

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

Me too, i'm very much interested in meeting some of the people of this board..

we'll for a tea or coffee... but i'm a little bit too far and its a significant

problem to be able to obtain visa for united states... Just looking forward if

somebody someday feel like visiting the mount everest country.. Nepal.

My prayers,, for Angie's, Patty's Surgery and best wishes that this surgery

would find the better days in your life.

Love you all

Rupesh Parajuli

Nepal Chapter

Pancreatitis Association International (PAI)

Post Box No: 13946, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 977-1-4479627, Fax: 977-1-4476878/4460560

Mobile: 977-9851078750

rupesh_parajuli@...

www.pancassociation.org

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