Last night PS, Louise and I was sitting down having a light diner (left overs) and more wine and beer. We were trying to find a way to describe what just took place this weekend. We had twenty two people, strangers to one another for the most part, but, we knew one another like old friends. The smiles, the friendship, the love that was present was overwhelming. Meeting the people behind the posts was a true pleasure. I stood back and watched as my house guests laughed, hugged one another, and just acted like we had been together for years and years, then I realized, we have been friends that long.

If any of you get a chance to meet like this, please do it. In my 56 years I have never been around so many beautiful, happy people at one time.

So, to all of you that made the journey, Louise and myself want to thank you for allowing us to be part of your life's.

Thank you.

Jerry, you and Louise are very special people! I only wish I had been able to make it. I echo your sentiments and wish one day I have the pleasure of meeting you and that wild tattooed woman Louise along with many of the other Bt'ers I haven't met face to face. I woke up cranky but your post just wiped it all away, THANKS!

Thanks Jerry! I have felt this way every time I get to meet someone from BT. I really wish I could have made it. Next time there is a big one, I will drag Becky along with me and we will have a blast. Life is too short and we need to experience as much as we can. I'm so glad you got to host and meet so many wonderful people.

Jerry and Louise,
Even though we could not make the trip this time, I thought of all my BT friends that had the chance to get together and meet the real person who is behind the name and picture in the profile. I could feel the love weeks prior to the event with all the kidding and anticipation in the posts prior.

Yes, family and friends are what it's all about. You all, my "Invisible" friends, are special.

(Message edited by tlraz on October 27, 2008)

AWWWWW! Jerry and Louise, We love you too!!!

Hugs!

LaDonna

You are absolutely correct, Jerry. We may be physical strangers, but have been close friends for years. It was quite the experience Saturday, the laughter was universal, and the joy contagious. Thanks for hosting this wonderful event.

Ditto..and I am DOUBLE blessed to have some of you as my travel clients..I thank you from the BOTTOM of my heart.

Jerry, that was beautiful!!! You have put to words what I have felt since day one on BT!
Thanks again for having us!!!

Yep - it's all about the love and genuine caring! I'm blessed to have so many friends.

I have tears...I feel the same way. It's not often you can get together with your virtual friends in person and feel like you've known them all your life, or at least for years.

Jerry, Louise, thanks again, and Cecil, thanks again for topping off my weekend with that fabulous ride in the beamer, down the NE coast...it was AMAZING!

I'm all verklempt!

Darlene, Maggie and the other Non BT folks sure had a good time too..we laughed the whole way home...I love Tom ...what a sweetie...Bassy never ceases to entertain me. Sue was a sweetie...Louise ..oh EVERYONE. Where's Freddie today?? FREDSTER..you got mail and I need an answer NOW..foot tapping..haa

The love and laughter shines through loud and clear. I'm sure I'm not the only one who laughed out loud as the pictures are posted.
Thank you for hosting such a grand event.

Guy and I look forward to doing it again sometime --- it really is heartwarming!

I am still smiling from this week-end. It was the best BT get together I ever could have imagined. So many people, all with different points of view, personalities, yet, all getting along beautifully and lots of laughing and hugging was always going on. Everywhere I went, I met a new friend, some old and lots more new, but not so new as we have this wonderful family here on BT. To just be there and get to talk to each and everyone of you all who were there was just so special. I will always remember the MM. This was my first "real" big MM that I actually was able to make and I was so happy that it was at Jerry's and Louise's. You both really went all out for us and I want to thank you for letting us invade your home! And Caymus, he is even more handsome and cuter in real life than the photos here on BT. He handled all us there in stride and gave each and every one of us a chance to spend some time with him. He gave lots of loving out and received lots of it back too!

I got some pics too, will have to wait till hubby has time to download them and put them together so I can post them too.

LaDonna, it was fun sharing a room with you Sat. Night.

Getting together with a few BT'r for breakfast on Sunday morning was fun too.

I have to say I have never laughed so much in a long time and the hugs were good too! Still smiling over here.

Jealousy...pure jealousy.

Deb.....thanks for sharing your room! I haven't stayed up talking like that for AGES!!!

It was an awesome day/evening/weekend!

LaDonna

LaDonna, me either! Felt like I was twenty again, plus it was fun!

I want to THANK everyone for helping PS while she was there.And a big THANK YOU to JERRY and LOUISE for opening there house for everyone and letting PS stay last night and helping her get to the bus to come home.She had a good time she needed to get away. I wish I could of made maybe next time. And thank you to every one for sharing there room with her you do not know how much it means to me. I will be glad to have her home I mis her when she is gone having fun and I have to stay and feed the dog ,cats,turtle and get the dead frogs out of the pool.You are all her family. And she loves you all. She could not have made the trip with out all of you so THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH.And I hope 1 day I can do the same for you..

Jerry and Louise, you two are the best..You have opened your heart and your home to so many strange errrrrrrrrrs Everyone was wonderful.. Isn't it funny how you recognize people you have never met formally or in person yet you know those people in your heart and soul.. If it had been any better we would have been drinking that lime stuff..LOL and singing Kumbaya..Instead I come home with whiplash from dancing and face muscles that hurt from laughing and smiling so much.. I guess it is better than dishpan hands though,,,,Thanks for Cleaning up Tom..That Plastic stuff is really great and nice and clean too... Oh and George Home Feeding the Dog... Pegi Sue really snuggles nice.. damn that was the littlest bed I have EVER been in..

Thanks a lot buddy, now I am crying.

Ditto to what everyone else said.

Freddie, thhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhppppppppppppppppfffffffffffftttttttttttttt, I got some clean plastic for you

OH MY GOSH!!!! I just got home, took Calypso out, and HERE I am!! This thread, it's perfect. This was just the best weekend EVER!!!

Jerry & Louise, thank you so much for letting me camp out w/ you last nite!! And Louise, THANK YOU for taking me around Newburyport and Plum Island yesterday!! (Oh, go look in your living room, in the cabinette thing w/ the glass doors...keep looking, it's there....) and thank you for taking me to the bus this morning!! You guys are FANTASTIC!!!
Freddie, you are GREAT and snuggly warm!!
EVERYONE ELSE, I just love yall so much!!! It was wonderful meeting everyone and laughing, and napping with the echoes of laughter in the distance...LOL Everyone here is wonderful and I wish we could do this more often and have ALL of us there. It was a BLAST!!!!!
Jerry's right...there were NO strangers this weekend, just old friends who all just love each other so much and we are never alone, we are all always right here for each other. And when we do meet, in person, it just makes it that much better!! Yall, just always know, you are never alone when you have BT. It's the best!!!!

All I can do now is.....POINT!!!LOL

And I don't know what milk is PS....

Thanks, PS. I think you just made me cry......

"You are never alone when you have BT"

Jerry and I and Louise and Caymus sat and discussed this at length, Gail. It is true. No matter what, you will always have someone there for you. All of us, there is always someone HERE for us. We are NEVER alone. It's the greatest thing, the greatest feeling. We are all very lucky

BC, you don't have creamer in CA!! But I could point you to some....LOL

Hey Guys, I agree, BT is the best....I am sooo jealous and wanting to meet you all!!

Maybe I can plan that mini-meet at Knoebel's Amusement park in the Spring!?????? I'll check and see when they reopen and start a thread tomorrow to see if anyone is interested....

Hey PS, what the he** is "creamer"

PegiSue, it was good to spend some time with you again. It sure feels like we have known each forever.

hi gang
it's for ur coffee. u know like half and half. now they have flavored ones like hazelnut. wish i could have been there. sounds like everyone had a blast. we are lucky to have one another. instead i have sore muscles from sanding the deck. what an ugly job.

I have to agreed with everyone else. Jerry and Louise thank you so much for opening your house - what a wonderful time we all had. I had no laugh and enjoyed myself in a long while

It was a pleasure meeting everyone. Too bad I booked my flight early so I could have enjoyed part of Sunday with all of you.

Cynde - miss you

It was definitely very cool to be able to match actual people to the postings! I got a real kick out of how far people came for this MM! We've had a NE gathering for several years at Corney Ann's, but I think the furthest anyone ever came for that one was Tom coming from VT -- we tried to get Freddie up to a couple of them, but she never quite made it (or at least not when Dan and I were there). Now we've got folks coming in from CA and GA and NJ and all sorts of weird places like that!

Jerry & Louise, thanks for hosting, and we're glad you enjoyed! And give Caymus a scritch behind the ears for me -- what a great dog!!! When we came in, he came over to say hello, and when I went to scratch his ears, he leaned his head up against my knees and stood there, happily leaning, enjoying the attention. My kind of dog!!!

Jerry & Louise.....thanks so much for giving everyone the greatest gift of all...bringing friends together from near & far for a very special event. You are both very special people.
BT is a very special place
Hugs

SSG, miss you too

We need a NEMM "stories" thread...LOL!

I thought "What happens in Amesbury, stays in Amesbury"???? Oh, I fell asleep!! I'm good!!LOL

P.S., BULL FEATHERS, your smiling told us all your eyes weren't closed all the way.

P.S, Me and Judy saw your foot tapping to the "mood music" Jerry had on in that room when you were in the chair. LOL! Too funny!

LOL!! I was just takin' it all in!
Listening to the laughter was the BEST!!

I never had so many pictures taken with my mouth hanging open from laughing so hard! Yes, the laughter was the best. All the HUGS were ALL GOOD too.

I love the pics of you Debbie!! And at least you are in them!!! I'm only in one group shot, WHERE WAS I??? At the neighbors????? They were all taken in the room I napped in, how did I miss this? Everyone is gonna think I got photoshopped into that one and wasn't really there!!

Now that you mention it PS, were you really there?????

Yes she was, and she knows how to point!

Actually Faith, I came up last year from Kentucky and stayed with my big buddy Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Patrick, how was the show?

WHO IS THIS PEGI THAT KEEPS CLAIMING TO HAVE BEEN IN AMESBURY THIS PAST WEEKEND?!?! Sorry for yelling, how wude of me.

PegiSue, just wait, Freddie and Judy have lots of pics to post too. I know you are in lots of them, you have to be!