Random Thoughts on NMF 2005 St Louis

[ajamesshaw]

1. Who else met the Tulsa kids carrying the baby possums? They were even at Jewish hospital with them.

2. Overhead: "When I get up there and meet Mr Marfan, I'm gonna kick his ass." (although it was a little more vulgar and funnier in person)

3. Place was Buzzing re: LOSARTAN/CAZAAR, everybody's talking about that, if they were paying attention to Hal Dietz in the AM general session.
I think I should go buy some in Mexico or Canada. Roadtrip anyone?

4. The Zoo is/was top notch.

5. What a treat to get all those game tickets from the donor. A better fit has never been made and that lady's son would have been so proud.

6. Finally met Karen Murray. A real treat. I fall to tears when I read about the Heartworks gala she is a big part of, and the incredible generosity of the donors and auction bidders there. Is that really a 1/4 of the NMF budget, seems like I heard it raised 1 million +-, and the budget is like 4 mill. Just amazing, like to get tickets and go some year to NYC.

7. great day two (sunday) speakers, but maybe I chose more wisely this year?

8. I can always think of the funny quote too late, but never too late right? In the Fathers Support Group, last meeting on Sun AM, I made a comment about vocations that our children dream about, basically saying that very few of us actually end up doing those jobs anyway, regardless of disease. I said, "No one plans on being a department manager at Wal-Mart" But now I realize my clever response should have been a variation of a quote from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", being "No one plans on being Assistant to the Assistant Manager of the mall movie theater". Not that funny unless you know that movie well, but oh well.

9. The NMF t-shirted Build a Bears were a very special treat for my 3-year old. Thanks to whoever bought all those.

10. I'm thinking about moving to St Louis just for the Wash Univ. Marfan Clinic, they are just super, I just wish my small town house had appreciated a little in the past 8 years, we really missed out on the boom in real estate by moving so far from the city.

11. Whats the deal with the people that pronounce MAR-FAHN, versus MAR-FAN? Who's right? Seems to be some of the higher ups(in private conversation) saying the first, but you don't seem to hear it anywhere else. What gives? Maybe there should be a poll.

12. Anyone else????