"MY GATHERVERSARY"

This past year has been one amazing year for me,-- I had three wonderful things take place in my life!!  First,  I know all my friends are very much aware that I retired in October 2007 for I certainly did not make it a secret!!  (Heck, after 28 years in an elected offical's office, four different judges and getting stressed out every four years as to whether or not I was going to have a job when/if a 'new' judge was elected, --- you best believe I was shouting my retirement from every mountain and from every valley)!!  Also, I am one of the youngest to retire from my county government.....sure glad I listened to my heart all those years ago!!!  LOL

Secondly, this date one year ago my life was changed, (and changed for the better I might add) I discoverd gather......funny thing I was not looking for gather, I came across "it" by accident.  The more I read and saw on gather the more intrigued I became.  I thought "Wow, just about anything you can possibly think or dream was on this website."  I would catch myself rushing home and doing 'whatever' so I could get on my computer and get to 'gathering'!!!  Within a few weeks of being on gather, of course as we all know, you begin to learn things about the people you are interacting with i.e., what they like, dislike, the names of their children and/or pets, their interest, their hobbies and so much more!  As you are 'socializing' with your "new found friends" you never dream of actually meeting them in real life.  You will hear something or see something and you will think of one of them.  When you would hear or see on television how bad the weather was in another state, whether it be snow, rain, drought, tornadoes, you will think to yourself "Oh my, that is where "Doe" lives...I sure hope he/she is OK"!  When you would go shopping you would see 'something' that would make you say "I saw this on gather "Doe" has one and he/she really likes it" or hear someone talking about world events you would say "Yea, I read that on gather"!  I am sure each of you have had these same things happen to you, it doesn't take very long before 'gatherites' become a big part of your life.  All along you know that your chances of ever meeting one of your gather friends are 'slim to none' probably have a better chance winning the lottery or getting struck by lightening!!!!! 

Then one day.................(this brings us to the third wonderful thing) you are making plans to meet two gather friends, yeah not one but two!!  The night before you are to meet them the next day you can barely sleep, -- reminds me of my first PJ party when I was I child......I thought the day would never come!!  Finally, the big day arrives and you are so excited, ---- you see them, say hello and from that moment it is as though you have known each other for years.  Then, couple months later, you are meeting these two gather friends again along with another gather friend and "WOW"  you four are having a blast, just like seeing old friends from the past, you start talking, laughing and know in your heart you have bonded with three of the greatest girls on earth and you are friends for eternity!  Again, before you know it, - you are going with one of these great friends (since you both are big 'Led Zeppelin' fans) to The Hard Rock Theme Park to ride the 'Led Zeppelin' roller coaster (and lived to talk about it)!!!!!!!!

Gather has been a life changing experience for me, -- I have lots of 'friends' here that I would love to meet in person......there are some we email each other, send 'things' to each other, call each other and I really believe we are true friends, -- friends I can talk with about anything and be myself....friends I love dearly!  I read a comment here couple weeks ago where the individual stated you can't be friends if you have not met face to face, I beg to differ, ---- you can be friends and great friends too!  I searched the definition of  a 'friend' and it stated the following:  1: one attached to another by affection or esteem 2 a: one that is not hostile b: one that is of the same nation, party, or group 3: one that favors or promotes something (as a charity) 4: a favored companion.  I believe a couple of these definitions would apply!

Finally, gather has been very educational, -- I have learned more on gather than I would have learned in any classroom in a four year college!!! (LOL)  No matter what the topics may be, -- politics, religion, health issues or 'whatever' you will learn something.  I have not agreed with all the comments and statements that I have read but they certainly have opened my eyes which allowed me to see 'things' with a different set of 'eyes'!!  Though we are unique in different 'walks' and talks' of life, age, gender, careers, ethnic backgrounds, education, personal issues and 'whatever' we all are the same......HUMANS, - we all bleed in the same color!





Thanks gather for giving me one of the best years of my life, -- I am looking forward to many more years of 'gathering', learning 'something' new, making new friends and meeting more gather friends in person.  You never know, one day you may be meeting one or two or three gather friends, -- some dreams do come true!!!

NOTE:  This article is a tribute in honoring three of my gather friends,-- had it not been for gather I would have never met these wonderful girls:  Victoria H, Marianne R and Nana (to seven cutiepies) aka Gloria,-- thanks to each of you for being a wonderful part of my life....you three are the best!!!!!

~~~Thanks again gather,-- I am so glad you are in my  life~~~