Despite the medication caused scare overnight Friday, palbert was a trouper and determined to do all he could with us. I was worried about how much walking he could be okay with, but when he was able to join us he did fine and we didn't do anything that would be pushing it. Was impressed very much by palbert.... educated, incredibly funny, cultured, just an amazing tour de force of a man and I'm glad we had the opportunity to get to know him a little better and immensely enjoy his company. I started communicating with Lewis by PM and by phone in the run up to the actual meet.... damn I was intrigued to meet him and so glad he came on down and really left an indelible impression that I will always remember fondly with his presence, that often biting wit, sharp intellect and yet down to earth genuineness that ain't easily duplicated. I do also hope Lewis that you take care of yourself and be able to enjoy life for many years to come as only you can! Meanwhile..

(He knows what I mean, more about that to come!
Rick is from the Cleveland area, found out his age and absolutely couldn't believe it... we all thought he looks a good ten years younger! Very nice, decent guy who is very close to his family... respectful and a gentleman. So happy he made the trip (by car, no less)here to the New York area and just wish we could have all done Central Park together.
Frankfrank I've known since the St. Louis meet and also was at the Las Vegas and Portland meets with him. As well he has made a couple of visits on his East Coast travels to my home city (Jersey City, New Jersey) and is always a unique, good natured, decent, great humored guy. His fondness for interesting word or phrase riffs just about always leaves me smiling, sometimes laughing pretty damn heartily. We talk on the phone occasionally and always love our conversations, very much wide ranging and fun!
Thad 1527, whom Frank and I met at the Portland meet a couple of years ago could only make it for Saturday but it made for a wonderful day for us together! Ted( his real name) is so humorous, positive, genuine and fun plus he knew the New York area in terms of transportation better than any of us! He's from the Philly area and lived around there most of his life but has lived for fairly lengthy periods in the Central New Jersey area. His work frequently brings him all around New Jersey and the New York City area so he's learned quite a bit about train and bus routes along the way... definitely came in handy going to Queens on Saturday for our meeting with chance1 (Bryan). We all shared a goodbye hug on the train back to the station of Lewis' and Frank's hotel at Exchange Place... he stayed on for the last stop at Newark Penn Station for the train back to Philly.. great times always seem so short!
Frank and I spoke briefly to Ra Kroma Saturday evening while outside the Brazil Grill. Unfortunately, I gather Ra Kroma to be a younger guy and he had indicated interest in clubbing and bar hopping. It was getting late and of all the guys attending, I was the twink at 50!

Funny thing though clubbing and bar hopping may have not been their thing, the other guys were so energetic and their stamina compared to mine...well just hope I have half that energy when I turn 65! I do have to say though, and I told Ra Kroma, that I should have coordinated things better. We do wish we had more people committed to attending, and it would have been more practical to have some separate group events like dancing, clubbing and bar hopping if they wished. So many things changed though even as the meet when on, and I had not wanted to have a meet so rigidly planned either. Hopefully one day there could be a somewhat larger meet that would include times to party, here or again elsewhere.
More stuff to come....

