Hello** Nerdessence**! Be welcome. Enjoy your stay.
Very good cat photos.
No reason to be shy. Speak your mind.
Thank you for the warm reception and all the photo compliments.
I apologize for the tardiness of my reply. First, I was nervous, then my post-op recovery got tiring, then I went back to work. There was a blurry, Vicodin-gobbling Thanksgiving in there somewhere, too. Three hours of screaming kids and my hillbilly brother-in-law playing gee-tar. 
I don’t know Greta’s lineage, but she’s loud like a Siamese, so it’s a good guess.
Welcome aboard!
You only joke about eating babies?
Welcome Nerdessence. Please don’t be shy. We won’t hurt you- we come as friends <ack><ack>.
Welcome, welcome! Join the throng! Ice cream on the left, buffet straight ahead, washrooms and first-aid stations on the right. Watch out for the squid; if you’re lucky, you’ll see her before she sees you. 
And, btw, Greta has the most beautiful eyes.
Thou hast offered us cat pictures. They are pleasing to us.
Being an introvert doesn’t mean she’s shy!
It doesn’t, no. But the OP described himself/herself as “gun shy of people”.
It took a moment of research to see what this referred to - glad to hear you are getting better!
Welcome to the Dope! As with any community there are good and not so good members. Keep in mind it’s only an anonymous internet message board so don’t worry too much about what others think and say, it really doesn’t matter.
Good luck to you, your hubby & kitties!
cute kitties