Note from the webmaster: The following is a letter in reply to my request for NJCL disasters in the 20 years that he's attended National conventions. I was planning to compare them to the Twelve Labors of Hercules. Although I didn't get exactly what I sought out, I think I got something better:

     Thanks for asking me to share some of the disasters that have befallen in twenty years of going to conventions. May I start by suggesting that you ask Mrs. Marquis first? For two reasons - she's been to more conventions than I have, and, I hate to say it - she's been there for a lot of the disasters I've had the luck to miss. I love traveling, so for many of the conventions I've driven my own car and then traveled on from that spot, so I've missed the two biggest bus disasters. I was visiting beautiful Boulder, Colorado, in mountain air comfort for 8 hours while the poor people on the bus were stuck in 90 degree Kansas heat stranded on I-70. And I also missed the bus ride where they lost all electricity in the middle of the night. So comparing my experiences with the twelve labors of Hercules is a little on the order of comparing the bravery of getting a shot with facing 20 enemy soldiers by yourself. I wasn't the one of those who got their luggage stolen from the bottom of the bus in St. Louis (though I did lend one kid a shirt and some socks.) My biggest personal disaster was the year I left my suitcase on my front porch and drove off to Colorado. Underwear, like fish and guests, starts to stink after three days. The decisions I could have made better do come to mind - the girl who fell asleep with her contacts in. She woke up in Columbia and thought her glued-in contacts would be okay for the two hours it would take to get to a hospital in Kansas City. Her mom was furious, but what does old four eyes know about contacts?

     Going to Nationals has been wonderful, even when there were snafus. You're blessed with going with people who handle changes with a good deal of flexibility and grace (sometimes I was the least gracious.) At worst, my experiences might be compared to the twelve labors of Ziggy. I'll write more if I think of a few things. And I'm looking forward to the website!

No more information has been provided yet. Meaghan, Bailey, Betsy, Claire--if you don't mind, would you just write a few paragraphs (or as long as you want) about your favorite KJCL memories, etc, that'd be nice. If you want inspiration, check out this page. Ms. Marquis, Jacobsen, and Hogg are also welcome to comment, and even MO people if you feel so inspired. After all, you also were in on most of our experiences.