Discussion: gratitude

In another thread, Geoman wrote: "The best way to encourage people to hold more A-meets is for the individuals in the Orienteering community to show appreciation for their efforts. So the next A-meet you attend find out who the meet director and course setters are. Grab them by the arm and give them a big thank you!"

On Friday, a friend sent me this great video about joy & wonderfulness of showing gratitude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHv6vTKD6lg

So... what do you want to say thank you to the orienteering community for?

As soon as I started writing, I realized I had way too many. But, here are just a few...

First, to my Mom & Dad for thinking that it was reasonable to drive all over North America for races and that it was safe for their only daughter to be running alone in the woods or traveling to Europe with friends. And to SLOC for many great meets when I was a kid.

Second, to Rick & Linda for organizing the 1998 Junior Trip to Finland & Sweden where I discovered that this sport could be very, very competitive with hundreds of people in a category vying for seconds & where I made wonderful friends.

To Peter & JJ for hosting one of my favorite weekends of orienteering ever: the sprint finals & 203 control course at Pawtuckaway.

And, most recently to Barb, Dave, and Izzy for welcoming me into their house for 6 months and to Anna, Alex, Ed, Brendan, Larry, and Sara Mae for a fun event at Lynn Woods yesterday!

Since my memory is not always so good, I'll start with the one fresh in my mind. Thanks to Joe, Geof, Bernie, Daniel, George & Betsy, the rest of the HVO crowd involved in putting on the awesome Highlander last week.

Thanks to ken for this wonderful Attack Point website, and all the posters who give us a glimpse of their daily lives. Much better than the daytime soaps sometimes!