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the AFKPS of '02...well whichever started with brett and Joe giving the Friday nighter.
I had walked around all day veiwing it all...and had enjoyed MYSELF.
I had gotten wind of the special friday night speakers. i had planned on going home early friday, and coming back for the speakers on Saturday; Not having a room for the night. But I heard how all these koi people would be sitting around chatting, and what a great event it was. So i made the Wife stay with me and we went early to talk koi over a beer.
I got there at the time posted for the happy hour before the Speakers. Got my $4 beer and sat near the "front" ...me the wife and the bartender (well the bartender was at the back).
Every so often a Koi person would stick there head in and look at me and the wife and then scowl and leave (it should be understood that no one really knew me then. Now i understand when that behavior is done. and am usually thankful for it)
People stuck their head in and left, maybe 15 times until one guy came in got a $4 beer and actually sat down with me and the woman who thinks she is married to me. he was pretty friendly, self-deprecating, and enjoyable. i don't remember one thing he said while we sat there. But as soon as he sat down the crowd started wandering in, and they sat right next to or at my table with me and this guy Not like I expected the scowlers they had been 30 minutes earlier to do...and they changed my mind, i quit thinking koi people were cold fish. THESE people gather round the table and acted as if they were old friends. And I was enjoying all the comaraderie...but then the "Speakers" had to start...so the fellah that had come in and started talking to me and my wife cuz we were the only people in there was introduced as "Tonight's first Speaker, yada yada ...Brett Rowley."
i figured it out PDQ. If you are "SOMEBODY" then most of the people in the hobby will be congenial, if you are "just" a normal person then most of the people in the hobby are too insecure or insensitive, or inept to come up and introduce themselves even if it is obvious that you are a "koi person."
Everyone wanted a piece of Brett's time and attention. I try hard not to bother the man. But he's a great one....man that is.
Write him a hateful email and tell him what he did...if he'd have not been a good person I'd have a very different opinion of this hobby....and none of you would have to put up with me.
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