The location of the East Tennessee meeting was actually kept a secret. There were pieces in national publications wondering where it would be.
Sometimes mystery is more interesting than specifics.
I will reveal to you that the meeting was up a mountain a ways.
This is not exactly a revelation. To say something is up a mountain a ways in East Tennessee is like revealing that it was in California within a hundred miles of the Pacific coast. Not exactly dead GPS reckoning.
I had bitched at the last meeting that I was sick of not getting to speak at conferences until I had listened to the Name speakers and only got on when I was really exhausted. So in a fine act of courtesy they put Ole Bob first this time, with Horus as the other speaker to hold the old man up.
I then went back to my motel and slept through the rest of the conference. I was exhausted, and I had another problem I didn’t realize for a while.
As I said, the meeting place was up a mountain and the way there involved driving round and round and round in sharp turns.
When I was a kid, we went to my grandfather’s house regularly, and it was on top of a mountain. Back then before interstate, the drive up and down involved round and round and round sharp curves. I remember once in the evening seeing my face reflected in the mirror, and I was white as chalk.
This doesn’t happen when I’m driving, but I could never have found the place on my own, so I rode.
I had done my little bit and I just couldn’t go up there again. I felt like hell.
So my apologies to Don and Dave and the conference organizers for putting me on first. I don’t think I could have listened to all the other speakers AND ridden up and down the mountain BEFORE finally speaking.
My apologies for missing out the last part of the get-together. It was my only chance so far to enjoy the thing with my speech over, so I paid a price for it myself.
And I apologize for revealing that the meeting was somewhere “on a mountain in East Tennessee.” But I doubt the other side can use that.
#1 by Jason on 09/21/2012 - 7:07 am
Not sure how you copped out. You gave a speech when you felt horrible. I hope we can get a text or audio of the speech sometime.
#2 by elcyCesreveR on 09/21/2012 - 7:53 am
From what I understand, Bob Whitaker was asked to come to the conference to deliver some goods, and Bob did just that.
I wish i coulda made it there, and I am planning to make it to the next one. I’m with Jason, I’d like to hear some audio or watch some moving pictures
#3 by Harumphty Dumpty on 09/21/2012 - 5:15 pm
I’m sorry Bob didn’t get to enjoy hanging out at the end of the conference, but he certainly has nothing to feel bad about concerning what he’s given others.
Would there even have been this conference if not for Bob, come to think of it. Derek Black was the instigator of the first conference, and my understanding (possibly mistaken, but I don’t think so) was that Derek wanted that conference in order to further the Mantra material.
#4 by HouseOfWarrior on 09/23/2012 - 11:10 pm
We understand Bob. I have to say that you did look pretty pale that day so I can’t hold it against you for leaving early. Thanks for speaking that day and I’m glad to have gotten to meet you.