Nilly's home.
sniffle
I think I need a minute.
I'm very afraid that this post is going to sound like I think that Nilly's visit was all about meMeME. Advance apologies if I come across in that way; that is not at all my intention. Bear with me...I just need to be a little schmoopy.
For me, the end of Nilly's trip is the end of the cycle that marked the beginning of my time on this board and, in large part, the reason why I decided to stick around and check it out. I still can't quite believe that that money I sent off to some stranger named Allyson's paypal account back in March has resulted in meeting this wonderful group of people and becoming part of this community.
Just think of the domino effect. I wouldn't have a tiara, or a bath bomb (or have even heard of a store called Lush, for that matter), or a rock from the last beach on the Western coast of the United States, or have a "Uses for Lard" poster on my classroom wall from San Francisco's premium priate store. I wouldn't have gotten lemon bread in the mail during a bad week back in March, and it's probably safe to say I never would have ventured through Penn Station on the eve of the Republican National Convention. I still wouldn't have ever seen a real, live Joshua Tree or a pair of wild bighorn sheep. I wouldn't have a place to crash almost anywhere in the US and a fair number of places elsewhere in the world, and I wouldn't have had hours upon hours of funny, intelligent conversations. I would still be able to look at candy necklaces without giggling.
I would be much lonlier.
I know it might sound illogical to attribute all of this to Nilly's visit, but honestly, it was this community's generosity to her the night I delurked that made me stay up all night that night and then made me decide to come back again to see what was going to happen in the next. I had already missed out on all the Buffyverse discussions, save a few wisful months of the end of Angel, and it was only the first night of Wonderfalls; I didn't intend to get involved with another message board. I was busy and wary of invisible friends sucking time out of my offline life.
But...that night was something altogether unique. So I stuck around, and soon Nilly's visit was only one of the many reasons I kept coming back.
So thank you everyone. I feel like I got an incredible gift that night, too.
t /schmoopy, sentimental Kristin
Awww Kristin - that is schmoopy and sentimental and WONDERFUL.
I'm thankful to all who had any part in bringing Nilly here - whether it was organizing, contributing, or just encouraging.
The kindness of buffistas has helped me step out of my uber-shy mode and actually get out to meet my invisible friends.
That's very sweet Kristin. But, you know, you've been a gift to us as well.
That's very sweet Kristin. But, you know, you've been a gift to us as well.
I second this schmoopy emotion.
That's very sweet Kristin. But, you know, you've been a gift to us as well.
Yep, a real stroke of luck that was for the community too.
Earwormed with good schmoop I can deal with.
group hug!
Kristin, that was really lovely. Buffistas have made my life much richer, too, and I'm grateful to count the people here as my friends.
t body surfs on the group hug, large tummy and all.
(Kristin, I totally don't mean to overshadow your wonderful post with a multi-post description of brunch. Just bad timing.)
Friday in New York (Nilly content: 50%)
Saturday in New York (Nilly content: 1%)
Saturday night in New York (Nilly content: 0.5%)
In the morning, I said, "Damn you, Ethan!" And we talked about Y.
After taking a shower ("He emerges!"), we also did some music talk, during which I learned that Ethan knew Eddie from Ohio! Always nice to find another Edhead. Neither Ethan nor Jessica were up with current music, so my assortment of CDs generally drew a blank. Ethan was more willing to check out new stuff, as he knew there was good stuff out there. I told him I'd tell him where it was.
We took the train into Manhattan. I took my luggage with me, as it would be a major timesuck to have to go back to Brooklyn to get it before going to La Guardia. Rather than changing trains, we merely got out and walked to a Citibank for Jessica's sake and then walked the rest of the way to Park East Grill. We were early.
But soon, kat perez, the organizer of the Big Damn Brunch, showed up in a pretty brunch dress. Then came msbelle with the Nilly. And a man wearing a "Xander Harris Saved the World" shirt who turned out to be ted r. Ted gave Nilly a book which looked Slayer-related, though I don't know what it was.
Others trickled in. Billytea and Bec, Jesse and Kate, Trudes and Kristin, and Hil. There was a lot of changing seats, as Nilly went over to the other table so she could interact with both tables, and I got out of the corner so I, too, could interact with both tables. I sat next to Hil, who really is wee.
Scola was last.
So, seating order! Along the window, there was an empty seat with my luggage behind it, kat perez, msbelle, and ted r. Across were Ethan, Jessica, me, and Hil. Turning around, from the wall out were Kate, Nilly, billytea (Nilly and Billy! Hee hee), and Tom Scola. Continuing along clockwise, we have Jesse, Bec, Kristin, and Trudes. Granted, there are pictures to confirm this, but I'll have you know I did that from memory.
I greeted billytea, whom I had been excited to meet, since the man's bloody hilarious. And Australian! He gushed about seeing The Lion King last night. His gushing was like Nilly's, but slower and more Australian. When Nilly gushes, it comes out in rapid bursts. Billytea's gushing is more a slathering of marmalade.
Kristin passed around her camera so everyone could see the picture of shirtless me and Trudes, which caused Nilly to place her face in her hands. I induced Nilly-disgust! Woo!
I showed Nilly pictures of many people she didn't know. The best one was one I had specifically brought for her, a picture of my parking lot covered in snow. "That's snow," I said. She was fascinated. I could tell she wanted to be in the picture.
Then I gave her her present, which I had wrapped in an Every Three Weekly. Coincidentally enough, it not only had a small headline of "Woman Loves New York, Not in Love with New York" but also "Israel and Palestine Married by America." Nilly noticed and was amused. "Was that deliberate?" she asked. She tried not to destroy the wrapping as she removed her present, which was a brick. In the shape of a book. Named Cryptonomicon. She looked at it agape and said, "Thank you." Hil told her she'd just finished it, and it was awesome. I told her to look inside for my dedication, which included my name written as an integral. She thanked me again. She's very gracious, and sincerely so.
