Last Wednesday, I headed to JFK Airport to travel to Denver, Colorado for the Second Annual South Park Convention – and I have been having such a good time since I arrived – that this is the first time I am sitting in front of a computer since I landed.

Having come to last year’s Convention, I had an idea what to expect in the way of camaraderie and friendship, and looked forward to seeing old friends and making new ones – but this year’s Convention is so much more then I expected in so many ways.

At last year’s Convention, many functions and activities were arranged and planned very well, including an opening dinner and a trip to South Park. But this year – the Committee that organized the Convention did such a good job – that I would hire them to plan the Grammys. From arranging a barbecue for the South Park trip, to a pool party complete with South Park recipes like Scott Tenorman’s chili – they went all out and then some. But more then the logistics of the Convention, it is the unbelievable camaraderie that I have experienced here that has truly defined why I do what I do.

Last year, everyone got along with each other almost instantaneously – forming friendships before initial handshakes were even completed. But this year, there is so much more to our Digest family then there was last year. From the fact that two of our Conventioneers had a child to the fact that after September 11th – everyone became closer – this year’s Convention was so much more family oriented. At last year’s Convention, most of us went our separate ways and spent time with groups of members – not this year. This year, everyone was so excited about spending time together that hardly anyone went anywhere or did anything – because all we wanted to do was spend time with each other.

As the moment approached where the days were more behind us then they were ahead, I recalled last year’s moment when I had to say goodbye to everyone, and the sadness that I felt having to walk away from so many wonderful people – and I knew that when I had to leave this year – that it would be a hundred times worse – and it was.

It was Monday morning and we were all standing in the hospitality suite as the clock drew ever closer to the inevitable. And when the first member of the group began saying their goodbyes – the tears began to flow. I spent an entire week with twenty five of the most wonderful people I have ever met – people that came all the way to Colorado just to enjoy life and have fun – and now it was time to go back home and wait another three hundred and sixty five days until we could do it again.

It was when Terry and Tish said goodbye that I lost it. I love those two people so much that if they lived in Brooklyn – I would buy a two-family house and share it with them. I remember giving Terry a hug goodbye – and feeling a single tear fall down my cheek. And when the rest of the crew boarded the shuttle with Christine, Arthur and me and headed to the airport – I knew that this wonderful week, that amazing experience – was history.

The third annual South Park Convention is already being planned and Lord knows that I will be there – I just don’t know if I could wait that long to see everyone again.