There was DU....

[The Straight Story]

As I remember this night, the night 3 years ago my mom died, I can't help think of what all I have been through in the last 3 years.

Lots of death (mom, x wife, mom #2, several neighbors and friends), my wife having asthma, and then a brain cyst, and Parkinson's. And yet, I did not go through it alone. On some of my darkest nights...

There was DU.

Then there was OMC - a walking flamefest here on DU (though I agreed with him usually...). No matter what had been said before, when his wife fell ill and passed away...

There was DU.

Funny how a simple little message board can do something so positive in the lives of others. When we are down, we come together to cheer each other up. Your simple posts from wherever you are DO have an affect on people. You matter, a great deal, to many people - even if you don't realize it.

And as I face this new year I know one thing.

Here is DU.

God bless ya all and have a wonderful new year my friends. And thanks for listening to my rants during 2007.

PS - If I pissed ya off this last year, forgive me please - Was not always in my right mind (or is it left mind...) ;)

[ixion]

1. All the best to you in 2k8, Straight Story!

You're one of people who make DU a great place to be. :hi:

[applegrove]

2. So true. There was the DU. Happy New Year to all who make it so.

[NMDemDist2]

3. Happy New Year TSS, hope this one is so much better than last

:hug:

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

4. One of my friends gave me a lovely pin that says,...

,..."I'VE SURVIVED DAMNED NEAR EVERYTHING!" for my birthday, my 45th birthday. I had experienced (am experiencing) losses similar to yours.

What I am most grateful for --> is surviving tough times,...with the help of many compassionate souls, LIKE YOU!!!

:hug:

Bless you, too!!! :bounce:

Forget that day called a "New Year". Remember those people who made and continue to make each day worth living.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. The best to you

[spanone]

6. ...

:thumbsup:

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. Pissing me off is no crime.

No forgiveness necessary. :)

Have a great new year!

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Wow....I thank you from the bottom of my heart

In the midst of the chaos that is DU at the moment, you bring to light the true value of this space (in addition to being the best place to find latest news, of course).

There are flame wars galore, but when someone is having a personal crisis, genuine compassion pours from the boards. It's a beautiful thing.

Like others, I've experienced much loss of those near and dear to me in 2007 and can't wait for this year to be over. I think most of us are anxious to usher in a brighter 2008 for everyone.

I send best wishes to One and All. Thanks for the wonderful post, TSS.

:toast:

:grouphug:

[truedelphi]

9. Three years is a long long time for a person to endure

The horrendous struggles you are dealing with, Straight Story.

In any other nation on earth, with just a few exceptions, you and your daughter would be arranging for the visiting nurse to come every other day if not every day.

You would not have to worry about how to afford needed things for your household.

And perhaps you would be scheduling your wife for the medical intervention that would un-do the Parkinsons's. Currently you have to have top of the line medical insurance to receive that care.
or be on MediCare.

Instead you live in this sick sicjk society and have to apologize that you are sometimes not in your right mind?

Who would be always in their right mind, facing all of your daily challenges.

[Mnemosyne]

10. All I can think of now is

are you posting naked until midnight? :evilgrin:

Here's to an easier load in 2008! :toast::smoke:

[The Straight Story]

11. Yeah, but it is chilly out here on the porch

:)

[Mnemosyne]

32. Just be sure to wave at the neighbors.

Oh, wait! Chilly you said.

Never mind. :evilgrin:

Did you ever post the cute 'Rudolph' clip from the Xmas show?

I hope you have a great new year with your sweet family. :toast:

[JohnnyLib2]

12. On to '08.

and it's comforting to know that your wife has a good man at her side. :thumbsup:

[roguevalley]

13. And God bless you too. I have 200+ posts when my dad died.

they comforted me so much. I love this place.

[annabanana]

14. Right back to you dear...

I haunt DU on and off all day long.. There's always a hug when you need one, always some clear eyed info when you get confused... Always some much needed confusion if you're too damn sure of yourself

I love this place.

2007 has been a rough year for America, what with unfulfilled expectations and all...May 2008 see some much needed movement!

[The Straight Story]

16. Only 1 more year of bush

That gives me a ton of hope :)

[blondeatlast]

15. I've had some heart problems and in the midst of my mother's illness and eventual death, I had

a mild stroke. I didn't mention it but to a very few people here but came here and it was just as rowdy and fun as ever and it helped me through.

This is my neighborhood bar--a few brawls break out, but when the chips are down I know I'm safe here.

Thank you all, DU. You don't know how much you've pulled me through even when I didn't let you know my struggles.

I love you all, even when I don't like you very much! :hug:

[The Straight Story]

17. I hope this post finds you doing better

I have always enjoyed your posts.

[blondeatlast]

19. Ah--I've had an period of really good health for the past year or so.

Nothing major for quite some time (knocks loudly on desk!).

Take care, my friend!

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. I love your posts

Have a wonderful 2008. :toast:

[The Straight Story]

22. Thank you my friend

That means a lot coming from a poster such as yourself.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. You inspire me to find bizarre stories to post

LOL!!

Thanks for the praise! :hug:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

20. DU was there

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2337946

and here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2330009

and here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7151335

A wonderful group of people to be sure TSS

A very Happy New Year my friend :hug:

[The Straight Story]

21. Thank you for those links

and a :hug: for you

[TygrBright]

23. SS... (and OMC and everyone else...) DU is NOT a message board. It's not even...

...a website.

It's an online community. And that's how online communities work. We're here for each other. We care. We express it. We argue and squabble, we encourage and appreciate. Communities can be a little claustrophobic sometimes, but DU is big enough and lively enough and varied enough to have a refuge for everyone.

When I'm feeling a little jaded by all the your-candidate-sucks-and-mine-doesn't childishness, I can take refuge in the gardening forum, or enjoy a little quality snark in the Lounge. Weekends, I look forward to JeffR's wonderful DUzy's and I always stay up late enough on Sunday to get an early look at the inimitable Idiots. When I see certain screen names on the list I click on those posts right away-- we have our celebrities and our personalities, and we have our little sub-communities and cliques and factions. Communities are like that.

Communities can be annoying sometimes (who hasn't wanted to escape the small-towniness of a real or online community now and then?) but when you get right down to it, we NEED our communities. Because it's the place where there's always someone there for us. People who share a common experience of online life, a common acquaintance among fellow-posters, a common concern for shared priorities.

I couldn't give OMC the hug I wanted to give him when he lost his dear wife, I couldn't sit down with you, SS, and feed you homemade cookies and hear all about your mom and how you were going to miss her, but I could post a "hey, I'm listening... I understand those feelings... you're okay by me... and this, too, shall pass..."

I appreciate this community more than I can express, and I'm glad you put up this post so I could tag along and say, "yep, me too!"

appreciatively,
Bright

[The Straight Story]

26. Your reply is a keeper

Thanks for such a well thought out reply.

I sure wish I could taste your homemade cookies tonight :)

And I do miss her, and for some reason I am keeping that in. Maybe I just don't want to cry tonight.

So many have been through so much here, and I am proud to share my feelings here with people such as you.

Thanks again for such a wonderful post. It is indeed a keeper.

[Marrah_G]

24. What a great post- Thank you!

[Sugar Smack]

25. Oh, shut up.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: K&R. I love you to pieces, SS.

[The Straight Story]

27. My Dear Sugar Smack

(as CaliforniaPeggy would say) Thanks for such a wonderful reply.

I hope this new year finds you well and happy!

[Sugar Smack]

28. You.

:cry: :loveya: You too, my good friend.:hug:

[txwhitedove]

29. I read your threads, but don't usually reply. Wishing peace and comfort

to your beautiful family in the new year.

[RiverStone]

30. And from this simple little message board...

...comes very BIG and supportive things!

One voice added to many makes cyberspace feel far less empty.

Thanks for sharing words and wisdom along the way as well The Straight Story.

DU will be here when ever you need us.

peace and wellness in 08 :)