Herr Drosselmeier
April 28th, 2007, 04:45 AM
The MKF Convention Bus Tour
Well, I just got home from the first MKF Convention. I am thoroughly exhausted but at the same time elated. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. It was so wonderful to meet so many MKFers and be able to associate faces with the names I have seen for so many years. And of course, I want to thank the organizers; I can’t believe what a wonderful job you did! There were so many fun events and activities. It is amazing how much creative work and care you put into each event.
My favorite event was the bus tour around Los Angeles, visiting significant Michelle shrines. KeithB did an amazing job of decorating the front sides of the Tosca coral bus with giant appliqués of Michelle performing her split falling leaf. Also, many thanks to Lyrakwangelica for hooking up the bus’ loudspeaker to his ipod and keeping us enthralled and often in joyous tears as the bus rolled along, blaring music cuts from Michelle’s programs.
When we started out, the mood on the bus was festive, bordering on raucous. We tooled around the streets of suburban Rancho Palos Verdes looking for the Kwans’ first house. Then we found the little shopping mall with the rink where Michelle first skated. Soon we were heading into Torrance to eat lunch at the Golden Pheasant.
After lunch, the mood on the bus changed quite a bit. Maybe it was because some of us had eaten too much, or perhaps it was because we had all stayed up way too late the previous night at the costume party. (By the way, I am still glad that a certain CostumeAdviserChez did not prevail in convincing me that it would be possible to tastefully impersonate the Dortmund Streaker!) Anyway, after lunch, on the trip over to UCLA, everyone became very quiet and peaceful. I think that was the pivotal moment of the Convention, when we stopped trying so hard to be entertaining and became used to each other, comfortable with each other, just being ourselves.
Before the event, as I was flying to Los Angeles, I wondered if at the Convention we would inevitably form cliques, divided by age, gender, nationality or some other superficial criteria. As I looked around the bus, I noticed that the pairs of seatmates were extremely varied. I was reminded of Michelle’s early COI bus tours and how she befriended and often sat with Harris Collins. In retrospect, I don’t know why I would have expected anything different; one of the beautiful aspects of the Forum is the way that friendships are forged across all lines.
Well, I’m really wiped out now and am falling asleep at the keyboard, but I just wanted to post quickly and let everyone know what a terrific time I had. I will leave it to the other attendees to tell you their stories and their experiences at some of the other events.
Best Wishes and Goodnight,
HD
Well, I just got home from the first MKF Convention. I am thoroughly exhausted but at the same time elated. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. It was so wonderful to meet so many MKFers and be able to associate faces with the names I have seen for so many years. And of course, I want to thank the organizers; I can’t believe what a wonderful job you did! There were so many fun events and activities. It is amazing how much creative work and care you put into each event.
My favorite event was the bus tour around Los Angeles, visiting significant Michelle shrines. KeithB did an amazing job of decorating the front sides of the Tosca coral bus with giant appliqués of Michelle performing her split falling leaf. Also, many thanks to Lyrakwangelica for hooking up the bus’ loudspeaker to his ipod and keeping us enthralled and often in joyous tears as the bus rolled along, blaring music cuts from Michelle’s programs.
When we started out, the mood on the bus was festive, bordering on raucous. We tooled around the streets of suburban Rancho Palos Verdes looking for the Kwans’ first house. Then we found the little shopping mall with the rink where Michelle first skated. Soon we were heading into Torrance to eat lunch at the Golden Pheasant.
After lunch, the mood on the bus changed quite a bit. Maybe it was because some of us had eaten too much, or perhaps it was because we had all stayed up way too late the previous night at the costume party. (By the way, I am still glad that a certain CostumeAdviserChez did not prevail in convincing me that it would be possible to tastefully impersonate the Dortmund Streaker!) Anyway, after lunch, on the trip over to UCLA, everyone became very quiet and peaceful. I think that was the pivotal moment of the Convention, when we stopped trying so hard to be entertaining and became used to each other, comfortable with each other, just being ourselves.
Before the event, as I was flying to Los Angeles, I wondered if at the Convention we would inevitably form cliques, divided by age, gender, nationality or some other superficial criteria. As I looked around the bus, I noticed that the pairs of seatmates were extremely varied. I was reminded of Michelle’s early COI bus tours and how she befriended and often sat with Harris Collins. In retrospect, I don’t know why I would have expected anything different; one of the beautiful aspects of the Forum is the way that friendships are forged across all lines.
Well, I’m really wiped out now and am falling asleep at the keyboard, but I just wanted to post quickly and let everyone know what a terrific time I had. I will leave it to the other attendees to tell you their stories and their experiences at some of the other events.
Best Wishes and Goodnight,
HD