Now I have settled back into the normal life I know
The gathering at Tampa just a few short days ago.
All bags have been unpacked, the work goes on I didn't miss
And now the time has come for me to sit and reminisce.

The time went by so fast! One minute there - next minute gone
How sad that we can't slow the clock when good times come along.
Arrivals and departures rule our lives...know what I mean?
Thank God for bits of happiness and pleasure in-between.

We rolled in around 2 - just me, Fran, Sy and Isabel,
Parked behind the other cars and rang the villa bell.
A big smile opened up the door, eyes sparkling with fun,
And we knew that, beyond a doubt, it was the Mushy One!

Another smile, another face as Krissy came in view
Then Kethry came to greet us and then we saw Titia, too!
Nan walked up to say hello and likewise did Maureen...
All these faces we had come to recognize on screen!

Marge sat on the sofa alongside her husband Bill.
Meeting all these friends I'd made was certainly a thrill.
The atmosphere was quite relaxed, the mood was light and fun..
The P.I.P. convention for the week-end had begun!!

We sat around and talked, each person feeling quite at ease,
Then it was time to get set for the night's activities.
A barbeque was planned around the pool beneath the stars
And Bill was kind enough to entertain with his guitar.

The barbie had to be assembled, done quite easily.
A task like that was simple for such pros like Sy and me.
The fire was burning bright as coals took on a reddish sheen
Thanks to pints of starter fluid and help from Maureen!

The burgers were perfection - sausages were pure delight
And, thanks to Keth, I got to taste the thrill of Vegemite!
The doctor says my stomach will be just like new some day
Though just how long that day may be he really couldn't say!

Then, after that, gifts were exchanged - a wonderful surprise!
Momentos brought from other lands appeared before my eyes!!
Things sit now on my office desk that I see constantly
Reminding me of all the friendships that have come to be.

Bill entertained with his guitar - he really is quite good
And showed us carvings he constructed out of bits of wood.
When he took breaks we all took turns reciting poetry.
Of all the things that we would do, that was the best for me.

I'd seen their words on printed page and on computer screen
And here they were reciting those same poems that I'd seen.
The voices of the authors of the poems I knew so well
Delighted us with rhymes and stories only they could tell.

The time had finally come to say good night and go to bed.
Little did I know the chaos that lay right ahead!
I'll set up the scenario so you can clearly see
That it was not my fault that it was such calamity!

There were three bedrooms - one was shared by Krissy and her mother
Marge and Bill had one, David and Lyra had the other.
Then it got more interesting...where was sweet Maureen?
A mattress in the closet - yep, she was our closet queen!

Titia, Nan and Kethry had a place that was quite cool.
They all slept on air mattresses around the backyard pool.
Two sofa beds for Fran and I and Sy and Isabel
But when I tried to lay on one I thought I was in hell!

The springs almost impaled me! The crossbars killed my back!
My body felt that it was under enemy attack!!
We blew up one air mattress, thinking that would work - instead
When I rolled over to lay down, I fell right through the bed!!

No one tried to help me out or rescue me because
They were all too busy running for their cameras!
My cries of help did me no good because it was quite clear
They were just concerned to get some pictures of the 'deer!

Somehow we made it through the night, just how I'm not quite sure.
To sleep ten feet from Isabel's more than one can endure!
But we all woke up in the morn, got dressed and set to go
Halfway across the country to the Cypress Gardens show.

The road trip has been chronicled so that I won't repeat,
Suffice to say that Titia's face was whiter than a sheet!
The Cypress Gardens skiers all performed in perfect form
And we arrived back home at last without undue alarm.

We only had an hour - our faces filled with sweat and grime
But clean clothes over dirty bodies made it just in time.
The Outback Steakhouse lost our reservations - ain't that sweet?
So we sat there another hour while waiting for a seat.

Kethry read the menu and she smiled and shook her head.
There were no Aussie foods like those they listed, Kethry said.
A bloomin' onion?What was that? She laughed so hard she cried
Then, after what seemed a year or two, we finally got inside.

The meals were magnificent - the service was top-rate.
We all dug in and cleaned up every morsel on our plate.
Marsha brought out party favors..GAWD! We made a mess!
It took the waiters all night long to clean it up, I guess.

We finally got back to the house. It had been one full day!
We sat around, had coffee, talked and passed the time away.
There were two options open that were running through my head...
Drive five hours home or spend another night thereon that bed!

We bid the group a fond farewell and said our sad goodbyes,
I felt a mix of happiness and sadness in my eyes.
Not easy leaving my new friends that I had met this way.
We packed the car, waved one more time, then slowly drove away.

Now Titia's back in Holland, Marsha's headed for the Isle
And Keth will be arriving in Austrailia in a while.
Maureen is on her way back east and Nan is Texas-bound
Lyra and her hubby probably lost and driving around.

We'll meet each night on pages blue as we have always done
Remembering these special days that we shared so much fun.
We spent our time together and now we are far apart
But every one of my new friends live right here in my heart.