27 January 2011
A grand total of 8 women and one very brave man got together for last night's ivf.ca meet-up dinner in Victoria. Many of us have been chattering away on the Victoria Clinic Pals thread here for many months (far too many months!).
It was a long drive for me after a full day of work, and would mean getting back home far past my bedtime, but how could I miss out? The roads were dry and I made good time over the pass and arrived a bit early. The parking at the restaurant was all full, so I found a spot in front of some of the shops around the corner. I thought I'd check to see if there was a free WiFi signal I could pick up to waste some more time surfing on this site. Score! I got access but I had to LOL when I realized the network I was leaching off was titled "Bellies In Bloom" and I looked up to see that I'd parked right in front of a maternity wear store! The irony of that nearly knocked me over. I posted it in my status here and Designer Bug replied: "Why am I not surprised that it's you of all people who would experience something like this?" Yep.
As I scanned the recent posts on our clinic pals thread, one member of the group had a minor panic when she got word that a group of ex-coworkers had a reservation at the same restaurant and the times would overlap. What are the chances? It never seems to fail, last time a few of us met we were seated next to a group having baby shower! Anyway that got sorted out quickly with a little help from others and some creative thinking, and the dinner plans were saved.
We slowly gathered at the entrance of the restaurant. It is so strange to introduce yourself with your real name and getting a blank look, but as soon as you reveal your internet identity there is an instant connection. I always have a visual of what I imagine people to look like and sometimes they look nothing like what you envisioned. It's always so good to put a face to a name (or a webname).
I looked around at one point during the meal and thought about how this wonderful bunch of individuals was brought together by unfortunate circumstances that life has dealt us all. The variety of experiences in this group has always been something I value. We range from 21 years old doing a first IVF to 40 something doing multiple cycles using donors, from entering the last trimester of pregnancy to PUPO or nearly PUPO to waiting to cycle again, and from male factor to female to unexplained. Some had traveled from as far away as Alberta to cycle in Victoria, while others lived close by. What we all have in common is a Dr. named Steve, and a desire to be parents.
Conversation flowed freely about all topics, both fertility and normal life related. It's like getting together with a group of old friends who you haven't seen in a while. We had a toast (with our glasses of water of course) to 2011. I'd like to hope that I wasn't the only one who left there feeling a bit stronger than when I walked in.
CHEERS!
It was a long drive for me after a full day of work, and would mean getting back home far past my bedtime, but how could I miss out? The roads were dry and I made good time over the pass and arrived a bit early. The parking at the restaurant was all full, so I found a spot in front of some of the shops around the corner. I thought I'd check to see if there was a free WiFi signal I could pick up to waste some more time surfing on this site. Score! I got access but I had to LOL when I realized the network I was leaching off was titled "Bellies In Bloom" and I looked up to see that I'd parked right in front of a maternity wear store! The irony of that nearly knocked me over. I posted it in my status here and Designer Bug replied: "Why am I not surprised that it's you of all people who would experience something like this?" Yep.
As I scanned the recent posts on our clinic pals thread, one member of the group had a minor panic when she got word that a group of ex-coworkers had a reservation at the same restaurant and the times would overlap. What are the chances? It never seems to fail, last time a few of us met we were seated next to a group having baby shower! Anyway that got sorted out quickly with a little help from others and some creative thinking, and the dinner plans were saved.
We slowly gathered at the entrance of the restaurant. It is so strange to introduce yourself with your real name and getting a blank look, but as soon as you reveal your internet identity there is an instant connection. I always have a visual of what I imagine people to look like and sometimes they look nothing like what you envisioned. It's always so good to put a face to a name (or a webname).
I looked around at one point during the meal and thought about how this wonderful bunch of individuals was brought together by unfortunate circumstances that life has dealt us all. The variety of experiences in this group has always been something I value. We range from 21 years old doing a first IVF to 40 something doing multiple cycles using donors, from entering the last trimester of pregnancy to PUPO or nearly PUPO to waiting to cycle again, and from male factor to female to unexplained. Some had traveled from as far away as Alberta to cycle in Victoria, while others lived close by. What we all have in common is a Dr. named Steve, and a desire to be parents.
Conversation flowed freely about all topics, both fertility and normal life related. It's like getting together with a group of old friends who you haven't seen in a while. We had a toast (with our glasses of water of course) to 2011. I'd like to hope that I wasn't the only one who left there feeling a bit stronger than when I walked in.
CHEERS!
That's awesome!!
ReplyDeleteHoping4_1, 27 January 2011 - 09:24 PM
SD-You are definately not the only one that left there feeling stronger than before. This is such a lonely road and it was so nice to finally have ladies (and a man lol) that are in the same boat to talk to that "get it". It was so great to meet you!
laura123, 27 January 2011 - 09:26 PM
I can honestly say I had an amazing time and I do feel so much stronger walking out of that dinner then when I walked in. Thank you for making the drive down. It was great to see you again. :)
BeanSprout, 27 January 2011 - 09:52 PM
so glad you ladies (and guy) had a great time :)
karenbabyready, 27 January 2011 - 09:54 PM
Yes! I can power on a little longer now!! Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories and a great meal.
Makana, 27 January 2011 - 09:55 PM
What an awesome meetup. So great to hear, and it's nice to know a male went as well. That is brave. Kudos to him. If you don't mind me asking, where in Victoria did you go?
Rick, 27 January 2011 - 10:02 PM
The Med Grill, it's in Royal Oak near VFC.
silverdollar, 27 January 2011 - 10:03 PM
Oh SD, what a nice blog. I'm so sad I couldn't be there!
Tulips55, 27 January 2011 - 10:54 PM
I loved to hear your meet up was a success!!! Here is to many more!
DiXie, 28 January 2011 - 05:51 AM
Sounds like a great get together! It's nice to be in the company of people who know what this IF road is all about. It would have been interesting to see what people really look like! :) When I envision people from this site I think of their profile pic. So SD, I would have expected to see you on SKIIS!!! (And you would have expected to see a pig with a wardrobe malfunction....)
leigh14, 28 January 2011 - 06:30 AM
LOL about your piggie pic Leigh -you mean you look nothing like that IRL? I'm disappointed.
silverdollar, 28 January 2011 - 08:40 AM
A Dr. named Steve -- sums it up for us! It was great to see you, Silverdollar, and everyone else. :) Did you add these km's to your total? :) Leigh14, I would drive many miles to meet Mis Piggy, by the way - love her! She may be disappointed, though, as I am no sexy banana...
rhubarb, 28 January 2011 - 10:46 AM
Good for you Silverdollar for organizing an empowering event like the dinner in Victoria. I hope to create something similar in Calgary!
Golfchick20, 28 January 2011 - 01:12 PM
I didn't organize the meet-up this time, Beansprout Rhubarb and Yvonne can take credit for that part. I hope you can get something started in Calgary Golfchick. Is there an active group here for Foothills patients? That's a good way to start.I guess I could add these Km's to my total but I'm sure Canada Customs and Revenue would throw it out as travel related to an IVF cycle -LOL.
silverdollar, 28 January 2011 - 01:44 PM
It was wonderful to meet you all. Thanks for coming out on the only day I was around.
Yvonne, 29 January 2011 - 05:53 PM