THE BIG SHINDIG
Folks! I get seriously embarrassed every time I think about the fact that I almost didn't go to the first annual G&K outing. There's no question in my mind that this will be a recurring event and/or that there will be similar regional events making it easier for more of us to get together.
For those of you who didn't get to go, you were missed. All of us understood, but there were all sorts of conversations along the lines of "Gee, I really wish so and so would have been able to come."
I don't want to take too much wind out of Frank's sails but I do want to make a few observations about the San Diego event in no particular order:
1) As great as Lindy looks in his zoot suit, Kay looks every bit as good wrapped in her pink boa. If the idea of seeing the two of them in full regalia isn't enough to get you to buy the tape, nothing is.
2) I was bored at Q's annual meeting for all the right reasons -- we cover all the bases online.
3) The momento presented to me of Merlin holding aloft his crystal ball will from now on be the first thing I see when I sit at my computer. To say that I cherish everything it represents is an understatement.
4) The comraderie of being face to face, smile to smile, and laugh to laugh with everyone was a reminder that the atmosphere we have in the folder really is something special that goes far beyond the stuff of investing.
5) Aunt Nancy is everything you would ever want in a favorite aunt, but she's no navigator. :) DownSouth's wife hates walking around for an hour to find something four blocks away as much as I do.
6) Meeting the lurkers was no less rewarding than meeting the thread's participants. That they set aside time to be part of the gang speaks volumes about them and the breadth of the thread's outreach.
7) If there's any doubt that fun was had by all, consider just one example of the person who, having already taken full advantage of tekboy's generous donation of wine, was sorely perplexed when more of it would not pour from an unopened bottle. Hours later when the effects of his liquid lunch had not yet worn off, he was sadly in no condition to take advantage of Magic's generosity, also in absentia, when she bought the first round of drinks to get the evening affair off to a perfect start. I won't mention any names, but I am using my powers of persuasion to ensure that the incident remains in the video tape. :)
8) Watching Lindy and his friend Edy (now our friend) teaching everyone the LindyHop was worth the trip. I won't tell Lindy how much I would have paid to watch Lindy and Edy dance. Though Merlin isn't a dancer, it should be noted that when there were only four of us left at the club and the other three were thinking of leaving, I offered to take a cab home by myself because nothing would have dragged me away from hearing the swing band's last set.
9) You can imagine the terrific results of the hard work put in by Aunt Nancy, Uncle Frank, and especially LindyBill that made the day-long event a "happening." Next time, just come and you won't have to use your imagination!
10) The funniest thing was seeing this group of so-called LTB&Hers practically in withdrawal until Lindy reported at lunch what each of the stocks were doing that day. (Shamsee, Siebel did quite well. :)
--Mike Buckley |
