Quite a while back, Walt Disney transformed a sleepy burg in central Florida into a truly magical place, where dreams really do come true! This past weekend that EXperience was witnessed by a group of EXer's who came together to celebrate the success they have enjoyed at this site! From all over the country, they came to meet the people who helped them, the people who educated them, and the people who cared about them! Sometimes more than they cared about themselves! And, we became a little closer to the family that continues to grow here as we share "Collateral Kindness" with the next person who is joining the site!
Once again, the avatars came to life as we watched people walk into the room to meet, face to face, people that they had never met, yet were not at all strangers! People in the room rose as one to move forward for hugs and greetings as each EXer's arrived! The employees of the hotel were not really sure what was going on, but they knew they were witnessing something special. Over and over I was ask if this was a family reunion! The first time I tried to EXplain! After that, I just smiled and said "Yes it is!"
We recieved a special blessing from the weather! Some may not see it that way, because it was cold and rainy! That blew up a lot of the plans we had made to venture out and partake of the veritable plethora of entertainment options that Orlando offers! As a result of the poor weather conditions we spent a lot more time with each other! We had the oportunity to draw even closer! And that is the blessing of which I speak! In the days leading up to the trip, I think, we got caught up in all the fun things that we COULD do in Orlando! The weather brought back our focus to why we were coming to Orlando to start with!
The most treasured moments of this trip, for me, is the TIME that I spent with my brothers and sisters in Freedom! I will value forever the special, and sometime unEXpected, bonds that formed!
A special Thank You to Lisa for the political discussion! It is rare, and good, when people can disagree so much without being disagreeable!
And Sootie! The opportunity to meet you is an incredible, and super special moment that will live, and replay, forever on the big screen of my memories! You are everything that I could ask for in a best Friend! And so much more!
I could name names and go on all day! But I will not! Suffice it to say that I wish every member of this community could have been there in person! Know in your hearts that you were all with us in spirit! You were the topics of so many of our conversations!
I want to end this with a HUGE THANK YOU to all who came and made this weekend one of the most important of my life! I live for the opportunity to do this again! Tommy
