If you missed the Kansas Wire Gathering, you missed alot


Daniel J Downing ([email protected])
Mon, 5 Oct 1998 00:08:53 -0500


Hello Wire,

        First off allow me to apologize to everyone who helped make the Gathering
possible. I should have posted this note last week. My life is getting
pretty crazy and e-mail is usually the first thing to go. Please forgive
me.

        Now on to business.

        I had never been to a Wire Gathering before. I had no idea of what to
expect. So I make the 2 1/2 hour drive to Parsons, Kansas. No problem. I
get there and I am to shy to start talking to anyone. I walk in and I am
just looking around at all the cool U2 stuff everywhere, on the tables, and
the walls, and on the floor. I nod at people, say hello to a few.

        Then the music starts. Now I am listening to U2 songs I never knew
existed. They have so many U2 b-sides and rarities it isn't funny, and
most of it they found in music stores in Kansas, Missouri, or Oklahoma. I
never knew. Now that the music is pumping and the food it being consumed,
we start talking. It is so much easier to open up when you are stuffing
your face. And I did a lot of stuffing. Once the conversation started
there was no stopping. Everyone had there own U2 story. Each one a dream
come true. Kristal talked about meeting the band after several concerts,
Kristen talked about meeting the band at a video shoot, I talked about not
yet meeting the band, but hope to do so someday. Sniff.

        Kristal, Lee, and the rest of the group did a wonderful job of putting the
entire event together. They did everthing, the music, the food, they
rented the hall, they had t-shirts made, coffe mugs, they gave out door
prizes, the works. They did a wonderful job and should be congratulated
for their efforts. Which is more than I can say about the 13 Wirelings who
e-mailed Kristal saying that they would attend and then didn't. Shame!
 Shame! Kristal is to good of a person to say anything on Wire, so I am
going to saying it for her. I hope she doesn't hate me for these comments.
 I believe it needs to be said.

        I have never seen so much U2 stuff in my life. Other than my fellow
wirelings, the jewel of it all, was the Wire Banner. WOW! The Wire Banner
right there infront of me. Too cool! Since I was denied signing the
banner in St. Louis, security wouldn't let anyone touch it, I got to sign
it. Just one of many things that made the trip worth it.
         
        U2 fans are the coolest. When you are at a concert, it is almost like you
are at war with everyone around you. Everyone is trying to get as close to
the stage as possible. Some drunk dude keeps falling on you. I think you
get the picture. At a Wire gathering every one wants to meet every one
else, sit back, socialize, share stories, and videos, and boots, and have a
good time. The group of wirelings around Parsons are a great group of
people. I hope that every time I meet U2 fans I am treated in the same
manner. I, also, hope that I am able to treat others in the same fashion.

        Once again, thank you everyone for putting together, and showing up for
the gathering, every one of you made that trip worth it. Thank you Kristen
for driving all that way, and for listening to all my silly stories. Thank
you Kristal for taking the time to organize it all, and for giving me all
those cool door prizes, which I didn't deserve, and for the oportunity to
meet other Wierlings. I plan on thanking you many times over.

Peace, Love, Lemons

Daniel aka Woody or Woody aka Daniel, whichever



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