A friends joy REALLY OFF TOPIC AND lONG

[Guest guest]

Recently a group of us that have been friends over the Internet and in person

for 10 years had one of our number invited to speak at an International

Gathering On Autism being held in the next few months in Capetown, South Africa.

Kulczyk who lives somewhere north of Chicago is one of the leading

advocates for the education and care from kids suffering with autism. She is

tireless in here quest and most times does not charge one cent in return. She

is used as an expert witness in trials by many authorities. She is a wonderful

lady. BTW her last name, Kulczyk is pronounced Kool'-chik.

We all met on another list on the net that did not like our night time banter

back and forth usually with one liners and groaners so we were asked to find

somewhere else, so we set up our own list and we have been a group since and we

are smattered all over the world. Many of us have met each other in person and

the North American contingent may try to set up a get together when gets

back from Africa. While there she will visit with Bill in Capetown and 's

daughter who is from New Zealand but visiting getting some university courses

in. and his wife Merrill live in , New Zealand and a couple of

years ago Bill and Jill from South Africa travelled to New Zealand to meet

and Merrill at Christmas time. and Merrill will be visiting South Africa

in July I believe.

There are only 14 or so members of the list and there has never been a nasty

word but most of us are related through our work with Churches and Family

agencies. Lee and his wife Tonya live in Tuscon, Arizona where he is one of my

priests and a fill in teacher and Tonya is a full time teacher of the 5th grade.

Lee's dad is also a member and he is a retired education social worker living in

Wayne's hometown in Iowa. Another member is who is a93 year old

Presbyterian minister near Houston. We have Grady and Ann Lacy who live in

Mount Airy, in the Carolina's, he is a retired professor, whose son was just

ordained a Deacon in the ECUSA. Bergeron in Portland is a retired Baptist

preacher who works for Staples to keep is mind activated. The youngest of our

group is a fellow Canadian who is also ex Canadian Navy and we served on sister

ships in the late 60's early 70's. We bump into one another once in a while.

His latest hobby is racing cars and raising his family after his wife walked out

on him and the kids, 9 or 10 years ago. He is Bruce and is a real character.

We all have fun on the list and because we have met various members, there are a

few inside jokes. At the moment we are on the 44,900 message mark that only

counting since Novermber 1998. We were on LSoft, the same list server that

used when we began in the summer of 1996.

We are just so proud of each members achievements and we all rejoice together

when someone goes up a rung on the public latter.

Blessings to all

+Dave