A few weeks ago I got a surprised e mail from Ginny that used to post under MikeG. She was the CG for her husband Mike. He was one month behind me, just like Stoj. We traded some e mails and phone calls and to make a long story short, she and Mike and 2 traveling friends made their way to Gulfport and we had lunch at my wife's restaurant and it was just great to hug (not Mike now) and talk face to face. After 5 minutes I felt as if I had known them forever. They spent the day in beautiful Gulfport, took some pictures which she just sent me and I just wish I could spend some quality time with all of you that contribute to the value of this website.

That was cool.

I agree David...it would be wonderful to talk face to face with all of our CC buddies.

Glad to know you had a good meeting with Ginny and Mike...a little mini-affirmation of life.

Even better to have a good restaurant to go to...kudos to your wife.

Deb

David,

I know that wonderful feeling as I hooked up with a member (Tizz)in Sydney, Australia a year ago Feb.

Last year at the NYC walk, I met Joanne and her husband Jack. The year before it was Sheldon and his wife. And this year, I will finally get some face to face time with Brian.

Every so often there is talk of having another OCF get together like the one in Las Vegas, which I think was in 2004 or maybe a year before that. It would be a great thing if it could happen again.

Jerry

Sounds like time for another OCF get together. We haven't had one since Las Vegas in 2004 that I know of.

Ed

David:

How nice that you got to meet some OCF members in person. Oral cancer is best understood by someone who has gone thru it. I would one day love to meet some OCF members. Hopefully at next years walk.

I have always said I wouldlove to meet people ..and I would be more then Willing to arrange a GATHERING if you would call it .. I had said that before . I just need suggestions on locations and times of year and who may be interested in attending so when I am calling around trying to BOOK things I have a rough estimate !!

Shar

We picked Vegas because of reasonable hotel rates, food, airfare and lots of things to do - gambling, shows, sightseeing, Hoover Dam, shooting machine guns, pistols, etc. The tricky part is finding a time of year when the conventions in Vegas are at a minimum.

Jetagehobo is the only member left still living who was on the original planning committee. Dinah was too ill to attend (and subsequently passed away) and Danny Boy passed away 2 years ago.

Honestly, it was a double edged sword. It was great puting names and family members faces to it but, on the darker other side, it made it a lot more up close and personal when they died. It had a pretty profound effect on Brian and I. I would probably attend, as, I am sure, would Brian, although not without some trepidation. There is a lot to be said about the anonymity of cyberspace.

Danny Boy had also painstakingly put a LOT of work into an album of both survivors (who couldn't be there) and deceased members. It has been "lost" and we would sure like it back. It was a very profund moment seeing all of the beautiful people who lost the battle with the disease. For me and many others, it was one of the most moving parts of being there.

Travelled Asia and Europe but have never been to the United States or Canada.
Have always wanted to see Las Vegas and if I could fit it in with annual leave from work and family commitments (elderly parents) and of course finances permitting I would consider attending. Even though I do not post too often lately I have been checking in daily for the latest postings. Am of course in touch with AussieH, Tizz and 2 others in Australia but would love to meet some of the people that I feel I have gotten to know through the forum. Feel it would be beneficial to share some of our experiences personally.
Regards
Gabriele

Well I am game to start checking it out and working on things .. I did a, small in comparission I am sure, Powerpoint presentation for an Oral cancer awareness booth that I did...with whomever gave me the info .. BUT I would gladly put together a BIGGER one with everyone .... What would you say we figure atleast a year away ....and any specific month or time of year ?

Would this be a bring your whole family or just the patient and caregiver? Sounds really great and we would like to participate if it works out.

Thanks for offering to put it together. In my other life I was a pretty good event coordinator and trade show worker and power point person so if you need some help don't hesitate to ask.

A double dare,
Why not have it here in New Orleans. We need all the tourist trade we can get and there are all sorts of attractions here - food, historical sites, food, casinos, food, golf, food, antiques, food, music, food, art, food, world class zoo, food,etc.etc.
There is great interest in the local medical community in rebuilding the regional care system. We can contribute by having an event focusing on awareness and possibly a screening. This is of great interest to me and I am willing to take on planning such an event.
I have also been involved in event planning and fund raising and could help with logistics and planning.
When I have a chance, I will check the calenfdar and w. the NO Tourist and Convention info center for possible dates.

Malka

New Orleans sounds great to me. I've done Vegas LOTS of times and it's fun, but it is very COMMERCIALIZED. NO is definately more personalbe and and much more character and the food is WAY better.

I've never been to New Orleans but have heard that it's amazing. I hope if this comes about Neil and I can come.
Sue

The first one was a family affair.

I'd love to see New Orleans but please not during the summer or hurricane season. And New Orleans has gambling also so we get all the good food, atmosphere, history in addition to gambling.

The first one was husbands and wives and Danny Boy brought his kids who were in their late teens or early twenties. We met for breakfast and dinner and were on our own the rest of the time. I think there were only about twenty some of us.

As to benefit, my husband came home a changed man. It was like somone had lifted a burden off his shoulders. I obviously had NO clue how much my having had cancer, not once but twice had affected him. There were no support groups when I did this so we were very much on our own. I don't know how much talking the 'guy' caregivers did, but they just seemed to absorb strength from each other in the realization that they were not alone in their feelings and fears. Brian had brought the Lance Armstrong yellow bracelets for everyone and my husband put one on and hasn't taken off since then. It was like a badge of honor. A couple of weeks ago, he had a procedure at the hospital and when I cut off the hospital bracelet, I accidentally cut off the yellow armstrong bracelet. He was so disappointed, it was like I had cut off his right arm. Fortunately I had another so it is back on his wrist performing whatever magic it does.

It was also great meeting people and as Gary has pointed out, somewhat sad because we lost so many that year. Would be fun if this comes to fruition. It really needs someone who had the time and knows the town where it will be held. I think that is what made it happen last time.

Take care,
Eileen

I'll throw St Pete Beach into the equation. Less costly than Clearwater Beach and just as good but more convenient to other destinations like St Petersburg, Tampa, Busch Gardens, Disney World, Ft Desoto Park. The water and weather are still warm well into late October and even though Hurricane season lasts until November 1, October is a very safe month. In fact this area hasn't been hit for many many years.

I am willing to look into wherever...I can check it all out and throw out some numbers and dates... are you talking maybe this Oct ?? Or a year ..Just out of curiosity ...

I think it is a personal choice on who comes with you .. In my opinion it would be anyone with interest in this ..

St. Pete is nice too. I think we would pretty much go anywhere, but if I voted my first choice would be New Orleans. I think we'd just leave the kids - otherwise we wouldn't be as relaxed.

I missed out on the reunion in Vegas and I still regret it. Being on the board for almost five years now, I know there are lots of survivors in my neck of the woods, meaning the eastern United States. How about Virginia Beach for a location? It's beautiful in October and the history here is amazing. It's not a bad drive from Florida or from up New York way.

Minnie

If October, please the last week. We have almost a month of Jewish holidays and I have a niece getting married. The weather here is also beautiful then.

Michelle, contray to media New Orleans is a great family city. We have one of the best zoos in the country in beautiful Audubon Park, an aquarium, Children's Museum, riverboat rides, World War II Museum, swamp tours. Also, there is much to do here and in the region that is very relaxing and also inexpensive.

My first choice would also be New Orleans. I think October is still too hurricane risky for anything on the east coast. How's the weath in Nov, Dec, and Jan?

Malka, why don't you find out what the off season dates are in New Orleans and the possible hotel rates so planners have a starting point to compare to other locations.

Eileen

Eileen,

St Petersburg is on the west coast.

SOOOOOOOO. You gonna tell me you don't get hurricanes on the west coast of Florida? If we go to a west coast, I would prefer the REAL west coast on the Pacific. Florida is not one of MY favorite spots. Wouldn't you like to go somewhere else for a change?

Take care,
Eileen

The St Pete area hasn't had a hurricane come ashore in probably 25 years or so, maybe longer. For some good reason they seem to go above us or through the keys and up towards La or Tx. I have been here since 1986 and I haven't experienced a hurricane force wind yet.

I will check into New Orleans and Florida anc Virginia, and I will check for the End of Oct . Any other suggestions ?

OH and I can check Vegas and I was also thinking Chicago for some reason . I stopped there once on a train trip I was taking and I loved it . I dont think there are any Hurricanes there !!

The best weather here is September - October and April - May. the worst months are August, hot, close to 100% humidity and no air moving and January, usually cold and rainy. There really is no off season. Mardi Gras and Jazzfest time are the big time events here. Also to be avoided unless you are interested are several special events which pretty much tie up the hotels and attractions. They are "Southern Decadence" - a festival of alternate lifestyles on Labor Day weekend, Essence Festival around the 4th of July, and several of the big football weekends.

As far as general weather conditions and travel - no where is good these days. A mountain goat falls off a cliff in Greece and air traffic is affected in Denver. And of course, we all know that the airlines blame everything on bad weather in Denver.

Re: some of the other places mentioned. Chicago is great. We used to go there in late May/ early June for CES convention and it was nice. Virginia and the Carolinas are also very attractive.
We used to go to Las Vegas in January for the CES show and I realy did not like it at all. I found it to be even more artificial than Disney and not at all a relaxing or interesting place to visit.

I've been to New Orleans, my brother and his wife have lived there for nine years now. I liked seeing all the old graveyards, but other than that the parts I saw were run down and kind of dirty. Please don't take offense to that. I know there are beautiful parts but if I bring all my girls down there, I don't want them seeing men dressed as women nor grown men taking a whiz on the side of a building in broad daylight!

If it's in NO, let's make sure it's in a nice part.

Minnie