# It's been a while, saying Hello **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 10, 2021, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091 "2021-11-10T05:01:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MannyLNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bcef8e/32.png) [@MannyLNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyLNJ)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/1 "2021-11-10T05:01:02Z")
Wow, this place has changed yet feels the same. I think it’s been three or four years since I’ve last visited. Let me bring everyone up to speed on what’s happened with me I lost my mother to Cancer I got married I lost my father to Cancer I became estranged from all of my family on my mother’s side My wife had a severe injury preventing her from ever working in her field again I lost my Uncle (Father’s brother) to COVID I earned my Associates Degree (At 46 years old) I continued on to my Bachelor’s Degree. As I have time I will be returning here. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/2 "2021-11-10T05:09:55Z")
If I might ask-What name did you post under before? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/3 "2021-11-10T05:10:26Z")
just a tip did you have a different name/password on the old board ? if so id have the mods merge this one with the old one sos you don’t get banned for being a sock, ---
**Author:** ![MannyLNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bcef8e/32.png) [@MannyLNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyLNJ)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/4 "2021-11-10T05:20:44Z")
No I was under MannyLNJ or possibly just MannyL come to think about it ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/5 "2021-11-10T05:43:49Z")
There’s a @MannyL screenname, last seen here in February of 2020 (before the board changed over to Discourse). Is this you? > **[MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mannyl/summary)** ---
**Author:** ![MannyLNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bcef8e/32.png) [@MannyLNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyLNJ)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/6 "2021-11-10T05:55:20Z")
Yes that was me. I can’t believe it was 21 years ago. That was before the winter of our missedcontent ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/7 "2021-11-10T05:56:07Z")
That’s a pretty life-altering list! My sympathies on your losses and congratulations on your academic achievements. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/8 "2021-11-10T07:30:21Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > That’s a pretty life-altering list! I was gonna suggest he start writing Country Music. He’d have a Grammy in about a week. ---
**Author:** ![MannyLNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bcef8e/32.png) [@MannyLNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyLNJ)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/9 "2021-11-10T07:50:11Z")
Thank you for your sympathies and congratulations. It’s been a few years overall. The passing of my mother was about a month before my wedding, I’ve been married for 6 years as of 11/1/2021 Her passing started the rift in the family. My wife kept encouraging me to earn a degree and thanks to [unionplusfreecollege.org](http://unionplusfreecollege.org) I am able to do that at no cost. I wish I knew about it sooner I might have had my Associates while my parents were alive. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/10 "2021-11-10T07:58:10Z")
Hi, @MannyLNJ Nice to make new friends. Most folks here think I’m bad, bad, bad. But I’m really kinda nice😌 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/11 "2021-11-10T14:09:10Z")
Send me a PM / email if you want access to your original account. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/12 "2021-11-10T22:03:24Z")
Sounds like a lot of ups and downs. Welcome back. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/13 "2021-11-10T22:12:28Z")
**This is the first time MannyLNJ has posted — let’s welcome them to our community!** Hello! Also, welcome to our community! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-saying-hello/954091/14 "2021-11-11T05:13:13Z")
I remember you. It’s good to see you. Congratulations on getting your degree. I too offer my sympathies for all of the losses you’ve suffered. That’s a good deal to cope with and I doubt I could do that and earn a degree at the same time.