Got a Happy Story is a community gathering every Friday night where we share stories large and small that have put a smile on our face. It is a time to acknowledge the joy and wonder we experience. The Happy Story diary exists as a way to anchor the community in hope and comfort while we do the hard work of taking back our country. Everyone and all sorts of stories and pictures are welcome. May we find joy and strength here.
Tomorrow there is a gathering for New England Kossacks in the South End of Boston. There's one in Denver on Sunday. And I know that NYC is throwing one in a week. I thought it might be fun to share our first time meeting another kossack and our favorite gatherings. And any other happy stories from your week are welcome also.
The first time I actually met another kossack was at Markos and Jerome's book signing in Cambridge. Very appropriately, Markos was the first real live Kossack that I met. He was sick and his father-in-law was present so he was a little stressed, but very much a regular guy. We were all stuck waiting on the sidewalk because of a problem with the bar. Once inside, I ended up sitting next to Anne Elizabeth who I'd seen comment in C&J. I was impressed that she'd taken the bus down from New Hampshire to get to the book signing. She was great to talk with about New Hampshire politics, Not a single person looked like the stereotype of a ranting 19 year old in pajamas.
The wrongness of the stereotype was confirmed at the inaugural yearlyKos in Las Vegas. I hadn't posted all that many comments, and my diaries were rare and embarrassingly light on substance. But events conspired that allowed me to attend the convention at the last minute so off I went.
I first encountered real live kossacks in a room where we stuffed bags. I looked specifically for Andy T who I'd conversed with in a few diaries, as well as shermanesq and doggie from C&J. I found them easily stuffing bags and dancing to sherm's tunes. I worked beside Klio who was so delightful and charming. I was stuffing bags in between Klio who was ABD in history and another woman with a doctorate in genetics. Hardly the stereotype of angry youths mooching off their parents and living in the basement. That bag stuffing room was one of my favorite memories of yearlyKos.
It was in Vegas that I first met Eddie, although I'm ashamed to admit I never connected that real live person with the one I had a blast with in threads 6 months later. It took me a while to realize that I actually knew him in person. The guy I'd met briefly in Vegas and the Bronx male version of myself---I never connected the two until Eddie said something.
Since then I've done a few New England meet ups, Chicago, and met Terry Pinder, Big Stick and deweyinthedesert individually. My favorite local gathering was up in Portland, Maine in a floating restaurant where I first met Bill and Michael, and Predictor. We had so many laughs over lunch. Then tallmom and I went walking the streets of Portland, checked up on her daughter, and then met up with everyone again in a pub. I have a pirate magnet on my refrigerator to commemorate that event.
I encourage all of you to meet real live kossacks when you have the opportunity. I've found each person I met to be incredibly interesting and I've never had to grasp for conversational topics. Some people are the opposite of their screen name and others are exactly the same. Every one of them is fascinating. I don't drink but have never been uncomfortable at any of the kossack events. Nor have I ever felt left out because I'm not a huge extrovert. So let me allay any fears you might have that you'll be hanging out with trashed 19 year olds wearing pajamas. I strongly encourage you to attend any local gathering of kossacks. And if you're in the area tomorrow, join us in the South End.
So, your first time meeting a real live kossack? Or anything else happy from your week. Please share it with the community.