I don't know if this puts me on team impulse purchaser or team on-line shopper (or both) but I went ahead and got the ticket! I arrive 5-ish on Friday at Seattle airport, and leave at the crack of dawn on Monday. The ticket is non-refundable. So I'm coming unless my house is burning.

I will wait for hotel recommendations. Rental car advice too.

Soooo excited to meet Inge!

I want to be there so bad but until we get my health issues under control I am not going too far from the house. I am so sad for me but soooooo...excited for you and everyone else!

Denise & Mary - SO TOUCHED. WOW. My out of town clients usually stay in the Hotel Monaco when they fly in to work with me (on 4th Avenue). It's gorgeous, safe and very central.

Deb and others, you will all be there in spirit. xo

How exciting! What a treat for all of you!

*secretly hoping that some fabbers make a trip to South Africa one day *

Oh big fun!! I am so tempted to try and make that work. Meeting Angie AND Inge and other fabbers would be such a treat!

Whoa! Very exciting!

FYI, You can book the back private dining room at Steelhead Diner and all guests get free parking.

ETA http://www.steelheaddiner.com/privatedining.html

It can hold up to 48 people.

I may have been to that private dining room, Anna. If it's the one I'm thinking of - it's quite tucked away and dark. I'll look into it again though. Thanks for sharing.

Susie, join us.

Wow, an entire month, very special indeed! You all have fun and I look forward to the pictures

Angie, thank you so much for starting this thread, and for organizing the YLF Gathering. You already know HOW excited I am about our "Seattle Adventure"!!!!!!-) And the excitement keeps building and building. (I hope I don't explode before I make it to Seattle *Hug you back*

Sweet ladies, I am absolutely speechless now!!!!!! (and yes, it's the kind of speechless that requires lots of exclamation marks. Warning: they're will be more shouting too

I am very, very touched by all your replies__ It's beyond amazing that so many of you will be coming to Seattle, and I cannot wait to finally meet you all in person!!

Tanya - Last minute is no problem at all I am holding thumbs that you'll be able to join us.

Diane - *nodding*, we really need to organize a UK YLF Gathering asap too.

Suz - I love the sound of those "buts". It would be amazing if you and the other Canadian ladies could be there too. AMAZING!!

Laura - It is HIGH time we finally met in person.

Neel - It definitely feels "epic" to me too! My word. And we will be thinking of you.

Jackie - Oh WOW! Perhaps hubby would like to come along too?-)

Shannon - Is there anything we can say to get you from that "wondering" to "I'll be joining you"?-)

Anna - Fingers crossed that you'll be able to make it. (and as Angie points out: we can meet up on another day too)

Christy - Oooh, fantastic!!

Viva - Such a shame, Viva, you will be missed-((

Cerinda - I'm sure we'll be posting updates and more details in the next weeks and month.

Merwoman - You are making me blush and smile at the same time

Thistle - We will definitely post photos, and of course we want to hear all about it should the new baby be born on the 27th

Suja - Brilliant, yay! And of course, hubs is welcome too.

Joy - You will be missed, sweet lady, but your 50th High school reunion couldn't go through without you. Of course, we would like to hear all about it!

Debbie - Right back at you!!

Ornella - I know. One day we will need to invent something to make that happen. I would use it all the time too. And: Germany really isn't that far. I really do hope we can get together someday soon.

Diana - Your Fall sounds hectic already, wow. And LOL about that world tour. I would NOT say no to that!-)

Claire - I am constantly pinching myself to check if I'm not dreaming And that ballroom may not be a bad idea :-))

Deb - I so hope your health issues will be sorted asap. Hang in there, sweet lady.

Hil - How fantastic would that be!

Susie - Oh yes, please!

Pil - Thank you:-) There will undoubtedly be lots of pictures.

Eliza, Rachylou, Deb and Mona - You'll all be there in spirit.

Mary and Denise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am now even more speechless. You already booked your flights. WOW and WOW again!!! (Denise: Go Team Impulse Purchaser AND Team Online Shopper:-) Mary: you bet we will be celebrating your birthday!! And Denise, we'll absolutely toast to the one year anniversary of the So Call Gathering too. I am tremendously looking forward to meeting you and all the other fab Fabbers!!!

My head is spinning from sheer excitement now. We are going to have a ball!!

*very big chuckle*

Extra fun to see Inge delirious with excitement. xo

You gals are ADORABLE and FABULOUS

Wow! I might have to make it across the water to this event. It sounds amazing.

I would love to be there to meet fab Inge. I hope I can make it. I'll know more in a few days.

So tempted to make a family trip to Seattle on those dates...

LOL, Angie:-)) I just can't help myself… This IS EXCITING!!
Shannon - Oh right back at ya, sweet lady!
Brenda - That would be brilliant!
San - You know how much I'm looking forward to finally giving you a real hug!
Celia - That sounds like a plan!-)

Angie, it's hard to contain myself with this very best news of the summer! To say that I will meet Inge in person in September and have my second visit with you doesn't get any better. Is it autumn yet?! Count me in and I will look for reservations right now.

Thank you for sharing this amazing announcement! I appreciate your hotel recommendation and if anyone wants to share a room, please pm me and also let me know if there are any deals on airfare from So. Cal. that you found.

I can't believe this. I thought I'd have to travel to Europe to say hi to Inge. Now, it's just right up the coast in one of the most beautiful corners of the world. WOW!!! I'm there. ^_^

Brenda and Celia, that's great to hear.

Sandy, I hope so too. Not to worry though because you're local and we can meet up any time. xo

Vicki, brilliant. WOW. I'm sooooo touched, and can't wait to hug you again. xo

Vicki, I found a good fare on Alaska Airlines from Burbank. It was cheaper than Southwest from Burbank. Don't know what the situation is from OC but definitely worth a look. I booked thru Expedia.

For those of you traveling into Seattle. You won't need a rental car, unless you want to leave the downtown core.
There is the light rail into downtown.
http://www.soundtransit.org/ri.....light-rail

Or Shuttle Express has a van service that services the downtown hotels.
http://shuttleexpress.com/?vh_.....-airporter

Very special, you are all amazing. I can feel the love from here

Ooh! Hope I can drive up. Was sad to miss the last Seattle gathering.

I'm booked and my dancing fingers were flying over the keyboard! I get in early Friday mid-morning and depart late afternoon on Monday. Anna, thank you so much for the shuttle info. and I'll add that to my travel notes.

I hope I get a chance to check out a couple of your favorite restaurants while I'm there (I'm thinking of that sushi bar on Friday night (Nishino) and/or that pretty place for lunch and high tea that was my magical first image of you and YLF (Queen Mary Restaurant), or I'm happy to sample any of those sweet treat places you show, because I'm always fond of them. But, the two sweetest treats will be YOU and INGE! xxx

Aaaaack! Y'all are killing me! That's the day of my first ever century bike ride! And my aunts and uncles have put together a family reunion that same weekend. Can we do a second, weekday meetup later that week? Like a hobbit's second breakfast?

This is unbelievable! I am dreaming, right?!!! Inge!!!!!
I wish I could make it...like Suz I have "buts" at this point...
...but - Inge, how about flying back through Toronto? You have to go East anyway to get home, right?

Super duper exciting! I blocked the date and have crossed all my fingers that I won't have a work trip to Germany moved to that week! Count me in!

Oh, Vicki. You sweetheart. (((HUGS))). We will have to choose our restaurants VERY carefully. I'm in all the way.

Ann, that's fab. But no worries if you miss the gathering because you're local. We can meet up any time.

Janet. YES. Inge will be in Seattle for a month, so by all means let's plan a second gathering. Great idea.

Suz and Sveta, you need to plan a business trip to Seattle in that month.

...<girl's math>... if I don't buy anything at NAS this year maybe it will be enough savings for a ticket...

I know I have not been here in forever, but WOW, I am so happy to see this taking shape. Inge is such a beautiful person, how exciting for all of you to be able to make it.

Have a safe trip everyone.

I will most definitely be there in spirit and cheering from the forum. What a wonderful gathering it will be! Another wishful person with hopes for NY or East Coast anytime after you've all recovered!.