|
Vampire 2000 - "Thank You" Doesn't Say Enough |
|
|
|
Written by by Bruce Nelson, San Antonio Texas USA
|
|
Thursday, 27 September 2007 |
Sitting here on Qantas QF 101 to Los Angeles, I've got plenty of time to try and chronicle my thoughts and recollections about the past three weeks and what they meant to me. It also gives me an opportunity to say to everyone in the Association how much I appreciate your making me feel so welcome and accepting me as one of your own.
On 8 June, when my feet hit Australian soil in Brisbane for the first time in 28 years, I knew I was back home again. My 1972 trip has now moved into the "long-term memory" file and has been succeeded by the memories of "VAMPIRE 2000" followed by 2 ½ weeks of visiting old friends, making new ones, and seeing more of the Australian countryside (you're right, it IS bigger than Texas.) Most importantly, what I'm carrying back home with me - in addition to the remembrances given to me by good friends and the 12 disposable cameras I've got to somehow explain the U.S. Customs - are the lasting images of the people and events that made this trip what it was:
- The "first look" at folks I hadn't seen in almost 30 years. Most of them still have more hair than I do (and in Woody's case, it's not even gray ... life's not fair.)
- Finding out how physically unfit I was by embarrassing myself in Saturday morning's Olympics. However, I'm consoled by knowing that I wasn't the only one.
- (What the hell, we were physically fit 30 years ago when we needed to be.) I'll work on improving between now and Adelaide.
- Looking around the Lagoon Marquee at Saturday night's dinner and seeing a packed house of people who were truly enjoying themselves in the company of comrades and friends. It really emphasized to me what VAMPIRE 2000 and the 1 AFH Association is all about.
- The almost-constant rain on the Sunshine Coast...it didn't really make any difference to me - I came to the reunion to see the people, not the weather.
- The train trip to Imbil...a step back in time but also a fitting close to four remarkable days.
- Hearing the Ran Tan Bush Band play "I Am, You Are, Australian" at the Sunday afternoon bar-be-que and knowing that it was meant for me (damn, that was special!)
- Leaving Twin Waters on Tuesday morning...enough said - all of you know by now that I don't do well at good-byes, especially with people who mean a lot to me.
There are a lot of other great memories in the new file: Toowoomba with the Hansson's and the Lennox's (ask Rob Lennox about his new-found need to be a locksmith); Canberra with Owen and Sandy McIntosh; Kevin Wigg and Penny at their Ainslie Crossing Vineyard; Bob and Denise Cartledge at Ballarat; Launceston with the Dodds (Elaine looks good and is doing well); and a very special farewell dinner on my last night in country, with VAMPIRE's Melbourne contingent. All of these add up to three weeks I'll never forget. I started this out by writing that "thank you" doesn't say enough...it doesn't begin to express how special each of you in the VAMPIRE organization is to this very grateful Yank. To repeat what I said on Saturday night..."see you in Adelaide in 21 months." 
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 October 2007 )
|
Reunions 
