The Indy Gathering is Something that you Feel and Not Easily Explained.

The Indy Gathering is in it's fifth year.

Nearly 6 years ago when I was diagnosed I stumbled in an H Chat room looking for answers to the physical pain I was suffering. My first was really bad having been misdiagnosed and prescribed a steroid cream which intensified the outbreak what seemed a 100 times.

In that chat room I met a woman named Patsi. Online now she goes by memere99 but back then her name was Me2. Me2 took me under her wing and taught me how to deal with the physical pain and then once that was taken care of she helped me progress through my emotional pain. That following October I became very ill. Not knowing what was wrong with me, I held onto that lady in chat for dear life. I didn't want to tell my family what was really going on. It was at that time I realized that STD Screens are not complete and I was never tested for HIV. All the symptoms I had pointed to HIV. Got tested, two weeks later I found that was not it. But still there wasn't an answer. 19 tubes of blood, a CT scan and MRI and 2 chest x-rays later, I found I had Epstein Barr Virus. It's an intense chronic form of Mono.

For several months I really thought I was dying. I made all kinds of preparations including purchasing my grave plot and making plans for my toddler twin boys to go live with my mother because of the horrible person their father was. It got so bad (pre-diagnosis of EBV) that I sent my boys to spend Christmas with someone that would have "fun* with them since I was so depressed and ill. I had Christmas Dinner in chat with Me2 who couldn't be with her family either. It was the most memorable Christmas I ever had really.

That February there was plans for the 20 or so people who hung out in that H Chat to get together in Atlanta. I made plans to go because I wanted to meet Patsi so bad. I needed to meet her! After being diagnosed with EBV and learning I was really going to live, I became very excited at the idea of meeting my friends from chat. But two weeks before the chat party I took one step out my side door, hit a patch of ice and broke my ankle in two places. I remember laying on the pavement alone just crying wishing God would just take me now!

The chat party went on and I called Atlanta. The phone was passed around so I could talk to all my friends. Then they put Me2 on the phone. She had the voice of an Angel. I just sat there and cried. Patsi said at that point, "it's ok honey, you have a party and I will come to yours." Well my mind started turning and I thought what better way to thank this wonderful person that gave me REAL Hope than to throw a party for our close friends.

I spoke with a friend of mine that owned a little local bar asking if I could have a party there for about 30 or so people. That was the end of February. As the weeks went by and word spread more and more people emailed me wanting to attend. As June 16th rolled around (which was one year after I was diagnosed) I had nearly 200 people coming into Indy. I called my friend at the bar each week giving her updates. I had NO IDEA what I was going to do with all those people but she said we'd figure it out.

That April I received emails from Craig, Marie and Kevin here in Indy offering their help. They had gotten wind of the event that was approaching and although I had not met anyone local I let down my guard and met them in person on April 16th. It was that day that Indy Friends was born and friendships that would change my own life forever.

That was the first Indy Gathering.

Each year since that time, The Gathering to me has been somewhat a celebration of life. I have said many times that my mother gave birth but Patsi gave me life. It was as if I underwent a rebirth at that gathering. Seeing so many people that were LIKE ME! and Normal at that!

The Gathering has been developed based on what that original chat room wanted. It is simple, close knit, affordable and fun! I didn't plan that first gathering on my own and the same format and agenda has been applied every year since.

There is no other gathering that offers a whole hotel with just H folks, a whole town that closes off it's streets for us to take it over and stand on the streets with our drinks if we want. I will tell you that town knows why we are there!  Josie, the owner of Lapel Bar is a dear friend of mine that supported me when I was first diagnosed and knew how important Patsi is to me. The town appreciates the many brave souls that come out for that one weekend in June!  The town council puts on t-shirts and serves us drinks, the local police officers parade around to make sure we are taken care of and that the locals don't come into the places that are reserved just for us. The locals know too. I was a bartender at that little bar for some time and I can't tell you how many told me they have it too. So if you see a local hanging close, they are likely the ones that have it and are so afraid to tell anyone.

Our Agenda for the event is simple -

Friday night we have a nice dinner complete with Indiana Fried Biscuits and Apple Butter :)  An annual favorite! The night offers our own bartenders from Lapel! A DJ who can spin just about anything you'd want. It offers FREE Soda and Beer and $1 mixed drinks! Drink tickets can be purchased from volunteers around the event.

Saturday offers a day at the park! A beautiful little local park becomes overrun with our group. We will have a catered lunch of sandwiches and chips with FREE Water and Soda. There will be games, basketball, Frisbee, roller blading and many bring their guitars and play tunes together.

We head back to the hotel around 4 to get cleaned up for the main event in Lapel. I always like to be the last one leaving the hotel simply because driving into a town that is flooded by "my people" brings a feeling like no other. It's a moment I cherish each and every year. The smiles and laughter warm my soul for the entire year to follow.

Sunday is a painful day! Many say I need stock in Kleenex. Saying goodbye to the close friends and my new family is one of the hardest things to do. Many hang out in front of the hotel to say their goodbyes. Some take off to grab breakfast, others get donuts and hang in the lobby.

Honestly, when people ask me to tell them about the Indy Gathering I find it so difficult to put those feelings into words. Black and White words don't seem to do it justice, as it's something you feel, not something you do or experience.

I hope this helps let you know What Indy Really Is.

Sorry to be so long winded, but The Gathering is something I am very sentimental about and I do tend to ramble about the event.

Take care,

Gayla

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