Clappy,
You are right… it is not fair that I, a lurker, do not contribute to this board like all of you. You have been so giving of yourselves, that it embarrasses me that I know so much about some of you, yet I have given you very little of myself.
The main reason I do not post is that I am not quick-witted like the majority of you, and also feel that I do not have much of a story to tell - it sounds like a lame excuse, but true.
Six years ago I spent 2 months in Larchmont, NY attending a daytrading school. A few months after my return to Texas I recall first reading your posts, and thinking, “How I wish I had known him and his family while in NY.” It brought me so much pleasure to “know” a man who loved his family so much by being such a great dad and husband. It takes a lot of self-sacrifice to spend so much of your “off work time” doing things with and for your family. It always brings me joy to read your posts about you with your family outings, sharing the memories that will dwell with you forever, and will never regret. My hat off to you.
Polvie I met while reading the Porch. I recall his first posts, and since then, feel that he is my buddy. I have not had the pleasure of meeting him yet, but have a nice friendship with him off SI. He, too, I greatly admire, for he is so wise, intelligent, kind, and knows how to be a friend. His wit is unparalleled.
As some of you know, 5 years ago this month my then 20 year old daughter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I recall the wonderful and unexpected posts from some of you on the website that the local newspaper set up for her. Since the diagnosis, I feel that I was in a sort of shock, best described like a deer in front of a car, startled and frozen with fear. In my numbness I was away from the computer, other than e-mail, for about 4 years, and started reading NNBM about a year ago, and possibly even less.
Due to my absence I had to catch up on my “old cyber buddies,” having missed Rose’s move to Masset, Clappy’s baby’s growth, and so much more, for I had to delete oodles of posts. I couldn’t even sign on to SI until Polvie got me back in.
Briefly, I long to live Rose’s and Croc’s lives – uncomplicated and outdoors with vegetation, rivers, hills, mountains, etc., everything opposite of what I now have! Zeke and I are trying to sell our house, hoping that soon we can just “take off” for wherever while we can. He is not in good health, but still with his great spirits and personality. Due to illness, I have taken over our business (investment properties) and find myself overwhelmed at times with the responsibilities it entails.
I feel that we complicate our lives, making slaves of ourselves, acquiring this and that, ending up tied down, for what? Material “things” are so meaningless in the great scope of life.
I do not check SI on a daily basis, but when I do, NNBM is my first check. My apologies to all for having been so selfish in only “taking” from you – you are right, "Snots right."
And ditto, "Scoot's rides, Rat's ranch and kids, Scott's non news, Siouxp's life, Tim's building projects, Jpg's kids, Dealie's travels, Glenn's socks, and everyone else's stories are all stuff I really enjoy reading about. (It makes it so I don't have to buy books...)"
Raven
P.S. – Croc, your pictures are absolutely stunning! Do you only photograph insects?
PPS – Wharfie – love your posts, too… btw, my sister DOES have to pay a lot for a loaf of bread and most everything else– it must be that Kodiak Island has to have everything brought in; transportation to it is also very expensive. It costs almost as much to fly from TX to Anchorage as it does to fly from Anchorage to Kodiak. NUTS! |
