The 60th CWD Conference was held and has ended. Our hosts in Scotland were just wonderful. People with diabetes, people with children who have diabetes, grand parents, mums. dads, siblings. and whole lot of great people doing what we do. Trying to make a difference.
The picture shown is what I received when I asked a waiter for a candle for our table. A whole lotta light if you ask me. Things are really not done in a small way here in Scotland. If we went to a restaurant, we were welcomed, when we went to a tavern or two (or three 🙂 ) we were greeted warmly. It seems to everyone I met here I look like I could be a ‘good mate’ as everyone says hello thusly; ‘hey mate’, hello mate. hold the elevator there mate……..all this mating going on (wait, that didn’t sound right).
There were three things that strike me as I ready myself for the airport. The relief on parents faces as they felt empowered by what they heard this weekend; not only from those who taught but what they learned from each other as well. The second thing that struck me was the look of wonderment on so many of the Children’s faces as they saw first hand how ‘not alone’ they are in this world of diabetes.
There was give and there ‘was take’. There was teaching and there was learning. There was laughter and there was tears. There was fun and there was silence. It was a fabulous trip and it is my hope that the parents and the children learned as much as we did. This is what we do. We teach and we show that kids with diabetes will always be just that…….kids.
The third thing I will take away is that this is the first conference since Richard Rubin left us. He was an amazing man who taught us so much about diabetes overwhelmus. The seat of Richard was empty but the toasts we gave him and the legacy of knowledge he left to carry on remained. He would like that we are moving on…..he left a whole lotta light…..and his will burn for a long time.
I am a diabetes dad.
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