LAMposium 2009--We've Arrvied!!

I'm always a little nervous when flying, but it has nothing to do with the airplane. It's more an underlying fear (and I realize a highly irrational frear) of whether it could lead to another pneumothorax, and the need for another chest tube. For me, having chest tubes was a more painful experience than childbirth. Oh sure, the doctors would say that's HIGHLY unlikely, but remember, along with childbirth comes that oh-so-convenient amnesia allowing us gals to be willing to give birth all over again. I'm pretty sure there's no such thing as "chest tube amnesia". I'm pleased to report all went well, and here I am at LAMposium again this year!

After a quick check-in at the front desk, I went up to get registered for LAMposium. I was met with hugs and smiles from folks that I hadn't seen in many months, and yet it was like seeing old friends. And then I was faced with my first dilemma--what color free tote bag should I chose? The pink and blue were summertime cute, for sure, but being from New York, I couldn't get past thinking about the dirt it would face once I returned home, so I went with the more practical burgundy colored bag. I'll check out the goodies inside late tonight.

I tend to be a talker (lord knows my husband would say that's an understatement), but today I tried to do some listening. So, I thought I'd share some of the things "overheard" at Friday's LAMposium. If you weren't able to come this year, let these challenge you and serve as a tease for some fun that you'll have if you attend in the future. I'll let you do the guessing as to who might have said them:

"I'm not a Lammie, I'm more of a Laminator."

"Paul Yoder--You'd make a very long, lean bookmark."

"I'm just going to put this flower in my hair tonight, and then I CAN BE a centerpiece!"

"I've booked a massage at 7:30pm. I hope we're done dinner by then because Hercules is coming to my room." (Note: Lucky for her, dinner was done early!)

"There is not a martini big enough for me right now!"

"You got a nice pair....of lungs."

"Is there a doctor in the house?"

"I got some great news tonight. My house hasn't burned down since I've been here!"

First woman: "You should really try acupuncture for that ailment."
Second woman: "How about Botox, honey?"

"I feel like I'm in a room of oxygen sisters."

"Let's challenge each other to live harder, better and with the intensity life deserves.....AMEN!"

All right, those last two quotes actually came from the evening's keynote speaker, Tiffany Christensen, author of "Sick Girl Speaks." She spoke all right, and she was sick--the cool kind of sick. Here's a woman who totally gets it. After all, she's had it, done it, been through it. But she's living life as it should be lived. If you missed her speech, you can still read her book.

Now I'm heading up to my room for a heavenly night's sleep.


Eden Pontz
LAM Patient