Hi Tom,

Wow!  Great to hear that the Princeton gathering went well!  ;  I wish I could've been there too...   I sure hope to meet all of you one day.  I think this was a great idea!  Could we meet in Hawaii one day?  

Snow storm?  Cool!    Did you get some pics?  Send a pic to me!  Man, I truly hope to see snow someday... Sure looks like fun!

Great job with the Princeton gathering, Tom!  Glad to see you're doing well post-op too. 

Take care...much Aloha!
Shan

Hi gang,

All that I can say is thank you to everyone at the Princeton gathering. Olga and I had a wonderful time laughing and talking with everyone. Although I missed the slumber party and the snow ball fight it was blast just hanging out and walking through the rain.

On a personal note, thank you for all of the concern. Please know that I am moving forward with this as I am ready. Meeting all of you has given me that extra little bit of courage that I needed. Seeing how health and happy everyone is removed the remaining few fears that I had. Thank you...thank you...thank you....

Tom, thank you for recommending this and for starting things rolling. Thank you for the surgical talk on Friday night.

Michelle, I'm sure the drive home was a long one today. But thank you for being there....you truly are the life of a party....and thank you for the big surprise.

Jill and Tara, wow, I'm still amazed that you made the long trip for such a short weekend. As I said over the weekend, I'm always willing to be a tour guide in NYC.

Shari, we're going to take you up on the personal tour of Philly.

Fran and Mar, thank you for the coffee mug. It was a big surprise....please know that it will go to good use....Mar all that I can say is "go Rocky, go Rocky"....

Trina, don't look be hind you while you are reading this because I think there is a mouse behind you. I was just thinking....Trina and Mouse.....I think Micky and Minny might need a bodygaurd in August.

And remember, NJ is a small state...there is not much land mass separating NYC, CT, and PA from each other...meaning that its not a supper long drive for the occassional diner get together.

Thank you all for a wonderful weekend. Thank you for the laughs.....and here's to new friendships 
Greg and Olga

Oh my Dodd!  (our new take on the common phrase, oh my gosh! )...so many things I forgot to add...

Shan, I totally forgot to mention the blast we had in the snow fight last night!!   We definitely have pictures...with more snow than people...it was really coming down yesterday!  My mother, coming from Cleveland, watched the insanity from inside the restaurant.    We even had a snowman (woman, person, it), but one of us (I can't remember if it was me or Shari) obliterated it with our cars.    Mar, you should play baseball - what a shot you got with that arm!!

Shari, I also want to add that am so glad to know a fellow moya moya'er who is as geeky as I am.  I think we freaked Tara out with all our geek talk.   

Greg, just FYI, I never did like Mickey and Minnie.  I was more of a Donald and Daisy person.  You mentioning it makes me realize why.    We returned home to no mouse sightings, so I am happy camper!  And Mar, thank you for comforting me in my 'I found a mouse in my house' tizzy!! 

Greg, I am very glad to hear that you feel more comfortable regarding possible surgery.  You should fear nothing -- there are so many of us on this board who are incredible survivors and you too are a testament that moyamoya diagnosis does not have to mean poor quality of life. 

Tom, I forgot to also mention, thank you for suggesting this gathering!!  I had been thinking about this ever since Jill's party at her CA house in November but you pulled it all together!  Thank you buddy!

Finally, Michelle, I admire you for keeping the secret!  Don't worry, I will exact my revenge on you three in due time (when you'll least expect it, but when you'll most appreciate it!!)!      Can't wait to see you all again!  Tell 'somebody else' that 'somebody' says hi!!

to all!
Trina

Hi all,

I want to thank everyone also for the great time this weekend. It was lovely meeting all of you. You truly are a wonderful group of people.

I have some great pictures!

Thank you,
Fran

Hey guys,

Well, the west coast contingent made it home!  It's late . . . we're exhausted . . . but boy, what memories we've carried home with us!  Poor Campbell is probably already tired of hearing us relay stories about our short time in Princeton.  What an awesome time we had!

Greg, thanks so much for playing tour guide!  Anyone who knows me has quickly learned that I get turned around after making one turn.  Someone to direct is crucial when I'm in unfamiliar territory!!!  It was wonderful meeting you and Olga - as others have said, you seem like a terrific couple.  Your attitude is great, and I know you'll do very well through surgery.

Michelle, thanks a million for picking us up at the airport, getting us to Princeton, then returning us to the airport.  You really CAN keep a secret!  We definitely missed Shane's presence, but as always, it was wonderful hanging out with you.

Mar and Fran, I can't tell you how special it was that you came over for the day.  Thank you just doesn't do justice for what you added to our little group.  My jaw hurts from all the laughing, and the snowball fight was unbelievably fun.  I can't wait to see you both again!

Shari, it was very good to see you!  It was fun sharing all the laughs, and I can't wait to do it again in Orlando (or sometime between now and then if we can come up with another idea!)

Tom, great to finally get to meet you.  Thanks for suggesting the get-together and for everything you did to make it happen.

Trina, I hope you can forgive me for my "secret".  Never in a million years did I think there was a chance of you arriving in Princeton earlier!  This was a short visit, and if I thought we would have had more time, I would've done things differently.  Spending time with you and your mom was wonderful - it's never long enough!  Maybe one day we'll live closer together !?!

When we were saying our goodbyes to everyone this morning, I felt like I was Dorothy (in the Wizard of Oz) saying farewell to her dear friends the scarecrow, the tinman and the lion.  We won't go into who's who (it's not important), but it was VERY difficult to leave you all.  I love you guys dearly, and though it will be nice to be home, big pieces of my heart are with you.

O.K., before this gets any sappier, I'm going to sign off for the night.  Thanks again for a great weekend . . . Trina, I hope the mouse is gone . . . if not, I might ask Dr. D to pay you a visit to help out (hmmmm, maybe that's not a bad idea!).

Hugs from out west, and I'll talk to y'all soon!

, Jill

Princeton Gang....

I know that we had a great time in Janurary and that Tara was able to build a snowman (ok...a very small snowman, but a snowman non the less). I must tell you all that with the recent batch of warm weather, Princeton is completely in bloom...and it is georgeous....daffidills, tulips, and every flowering tree are completely in bloom, wish you all could be hear to see it.

Greg