I think I came in around the end of 2000 not sure though, tried to do what
you did too DeeTee by going back in Google and I saw I was on the 2002 card
list so not sure at all.

I remember Dr. Doc!!!  In fact, I sent him an email a couple of times, and
he was really good enough to send a thoughtful reply each time directly to
my email address.

So what has happened to him?  He was in South Africa, as I recall.  ??

There also were a couple of other doctors who used to pop in, but didn't
seem to stay long, and didn't have the abiding interest that Dr. Doc
apparently had.  I always looked forward to reading DD's comments.

Java Jean

Not sure - 6 years ??? Anybody put me right?

Peter

Donna, I remember all those folks also, but had not thought of most of them
in a long time.  Can't remember the girls's name who "hated" her parents,
but someone thought it was Aim one time and she advised them that she loved
her parents and had never hated them.  It definitely wasn't Aim.

kate, I don't remember exactly when you started, but I remember when you and
I had pr-op and also hand/wrist surgeries the same days.  Also remember how
sick Butch was and how many, many times you had to call 911 to get him back
to the hospital.  Those were very hard times for both of you.

Donna, I remember when you lost your sister and how hard it was for you.
Also the other deaths in your family.  Knowing that people on ASA really
care does help, doesn't it!

I had the pleasure of attending the gimpfest that DeeTee hosted in
Washington, and I believe that is the last big one we had.  It was so much
fun.  There were some gatherings at KJ's after that but I didn't get to go.
Went to one in Fla. but it was mostly folks from the other group that I
didn't know well at all.  Wasn't quite the same.  Sarah met me at the
airport in Tampa and then took me back when it was over; saved the day for
me.  That was the last time I saw KJ.

Boy, you really brought back some memories!
Gwen

Kate, I remember all too well what you and Butch both went through
together for a couple of years with Butch being in and out of the
hospital and you doing everything in your God given power to help him.

You may not have remembered me being around all that much in the
beginning, because when I first stumbled upon ASA, there were actually 3
other Donna's.  There was Donna H., a Donna Freedman, Donna M.(who used
the nickname luyenne or something like that) and me, plus there were
like 4-5 Dianes here at that time too, I think.  It used to get very
confusing.

When I came to the group, Lori V. had not yet died, Rev. Sue was still a
fairly regular poster here until her husband got hit by the car while
riding his bike and was very seriously injured, Dr. Doc still popped in
from time to time, Lady Andy was a very regular poster ( I sure do miss
her!), and many of the old timers were still here and this group was
very very active.  KJ and Kimmy also posted regularly, as did, of
course, Mama Char, and Sarah.   I do still email and hear from Sarah
from time to time.  She has really had a pretty rough go of it these
last several years.  She just had another back surgery a couple of
months ago.  She has really had some major problems with her back.   She
is still at the same job, but due to all the problems with her
arthritis, she has stepped down from her supervisor job and now just
works seeing clients.  I did also hear from Carol (Del) around the first
of the year or shortly thereafter, as she emailed to share that her
second dalmation, out of the two that she had, had passed away.  She
lost both dalmations within a couple years of each other.  She has a
small dog now that she seems to truly be enjoying.   She was doing much
better with her RA after turning to accupuncture which really really
worked well with her and also a change in diet where she gave up eating
red meat for the most part.

I don't know if any one here remembers, but when I first came to the
group, there was a young girl, I think her name was something like Raven
or Rachel or something like that, and she lived with her parents and
didn't get along all that well with them.  At one point, she was going
to leave home and she must have had a good 10 or more offers from people
here in ASA to come live with them.  I was soooo touched by that
incredible outpouring of love and support to her even though no one had
met her face to face.  Rosie really tried hard to get her to come and
live with them in florida.

Back then, Johnie was a very active poster, as was M, Larry, Dan, Ken,
Aim, Melissa, Duckie, Mary Z., the lady that bought the house boat and
she and her husband now live on said houseboat and travel around, and
several others whose names escape me at the moment..

I remember being so intrigued by hearing about the gimp fests that took
place all over the country with people traveling quite a bit of distance
to participate and meet one another.  I also remember back then that AI
used to sponsor parts of the gimp fests, and I especially remember the
gimp olympic games they used to do and the absolutely hilarious pictures
that would be posted afterwards!!!

And, I don't think I will ever forget when my sister committed suicide
and I thought my world had ended!  Everyone here was sooooo incredibly
supportive and helped me get through one of the toughest times of my
life.  That was actually back in 2001 and that year my sister committed
suicide in may, the whole 911 tragedy occurred in sept, and my cousin
(he was only in his mid 30's) in japan died of an asthma attack brought
on by a bee sting.  Whew, that was one very difficult year to make it
through, and I will never ever forget Aim emailing me information on
survivors of suicide groups right here in my own backyard!  God bless
her for taking the time to look that information up and caring enough to
send it to me.  It truly was those support groups that helped me carry
on in life.  It also was what would end up helping me again just 4 years
later in 2005 when in a 4 month period of time I lost two cousins (ages
48 & 49) and my older brother (54).   This group has been here and been
family for a good 10 years now and they have blessed me in more ways
then one can count or every repay!!!

.
.
.
.

Donna
.
.
.
.
1.)   ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......

2.)    May God's richest blessings be
upon you both today and
throughout the year.
May His blessings flow through
you to touch the lives of
everyone you meet.

Donna, you are so sweet to say all that nice stuff about me.

I've been here since 1997 or thereabouts, and started actively posting
in 2000 when I finally got my diagnosis.

Whoever mentioned the girl who hated her parents - wow, i had forgotten
that, and that someone had us confused. I remember being SO frustrated
when I was accused of having said horrible things about my parents
online. You're right - I do love my parents. I may have "hated" them
briefly as a 15 year old or thereabouts, but who doesn't think that as a
teenager? And I was certainly long past my teens when I began posting
here. I would have been in my mid to late 20's.

Anyway, I arrived very shortly after Di died, and right after the
mystery celebrity left. Bubbles or something in her email address,
right? Lori V and I had many great email exchanges, and kept trying to
plan to meet up just before she passed. I was so sad, as she was my
first ASA friend to die. However, she was not the first "online friend"
I had who died. I lost quite a few in those early days, as the old BBS's
were full of geeky kids with massive depression, many of whom didn't
make it through. That's how I knew about all the Survivors of Suicide
groups for you, Donna. I lost way too many friends.

Totally different topic:
Do you all know I'm getting married on Nov 1?
Email me if you want the website. I am hesitant to link it to my post,
as it has a little more info than I want publicly linked.

It's been a long wild ride here at ASA, and I'm not done yet, even
though I often lurk now. I love you guys - I give you all credit for
helping me get from a place where I couldn't do much of anything and was
considering disability, to now where I'm walking or riding a bike 90
minutes a day, strength training, and have a fantastic career.

xoxoxox

Aim

http://aimgrrrl.wordpress.com

I'm thinking the young woman who didn't get along with her parents was Roz or
Rox - something along those lines.  I still worry about her and pray she's
found a happier life.  She worked (unhappily) for Fashioon Bug so I think of
her avery time I see one of their stores......

Very much so.. I can't believe me and Squirrelly's son have been
together going 7 years Oct 18th..