OMG. I am so blushing right now.
You are all very sweet and I thank you.
A correction: I am not the only person that contributed to the emergency board; Lynn and Gaudere (and I’m sure I’m forgetting someone else, please forgive me!) also threw in financially. And I’m not forgetting all the contributions made by our fabulous staff and by all of you, you MAKE this board what it is wherever it happens to be. Ain’t me, not hardly at all, I’m just fortunate to be here and a part of it.
For those that don’t know, the past couple of years have been very difficult for me personally. (Yes, we’ve all had troubles and some of us more than a few. Some of us have had a LOT.) I’ve hit quite a few potholes on the road of life and been broken down on the shoulder for more time – and more times – than I like to think about.
The people in this place have mostly been what’s kept me going. Between just being who you are and doing what you do and the more personal relationships I’ve been privileged to make with some of you, I have been able to count my blessings in most dire times. That has meant a lot when I had very little to look on that did not devastate me.
For those that have been there through my despair, I cherish you; you’ve held me up when I couldn’t hold myself. Your support has brightened some dark days and made these tough times bearable. Even in the worst of it (and please god let this be the worst), you have carried me through and I can never thank you enough. There’s some that I know about and some that I don’t but I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
When all about me was pretty well in the shi–not going well, not going well at all–I’ve been able to look on this little corner of the world as a better place to be. Sometimes just having to be here and do things got my mind off my troubles. Sometimes friends here listened to me rant or held my hand. Some of you have helped keep a roof over my head, helped me better my working situation. Nearly all that have known have been compassionate and loving. I probably didn’t deserve any of it but I got it just the same.
I’m still struggling with my problems, just like each and every one of you. I’ve been passing through a very dark time that seems to be slowly dawning towards a better day. VERY slowly improving but patience is not easy come by when times are hard. It’s buzzard luck sometimes; can’t kill nothing, can’t find nothing dead. 
You’ve helped me find patience. Restored my faith while you were at it, too. Made me laugh, made me cry, made me want to throw things some days. But I can’t imagine not being here and being a part of this whole crazy deal.
May 2003 bring all of us better times and happier days. I look forward to seeing you here on the boards – and maybe, if things REALLY improve – in some real life situations as well.
Thanks. And stop this, now; if my head gets any bigger I won’t be able to get throught the doorway and we can’t be having this. After all, I need to be – and hope I always am –
Jenny
your humble TubaDiva