And we know you couldn't have done it without us Don! Your welcome!!!
What Howie writes there is absolutely true. For the more recent reason obviously so. Were it not for the interest, attention and friendship of many many more of you than I'm ashamed to admit I expected this little run would have stopped a couple weeks ago. The thanks were many. The appreciation is still heartfelt.
Even more importantly, however, Howie is right for an entirely different reason. Whether it be idiotic banter, teasing among friends, the sharing of rides, the talking of bikes or the occasional more technical or informative there'd never have been that much to "say" were it not for such a good crowd of people to talk with. A group like this that is trusted, so obviously supportive, generally of shared interest, intelligent and fun is a unique and precious thing within the busy lives that are part of contemporary life.
I was lucky enough recently to have witnessed first hand this group reaching out and sharing itself. It was me experiencing that only because I happened to be the topic at the moment. Some have even wondered how a slower typist might be received or so assisted. I think the answer is obvious there. This group has sent gifts or gift certificates to members in hospital. It's helped friends in need directly and indirectly in myriad other ways. It's done these things and many others even when the friends were strangers. So any recognition for some obscene number of posts made has to be recognition of the environment that allows us all that much interest.
That "environment" is the people. The crowd writ large. We all should be thanking each other for the time shared to create the place we all enjoy and the people we all share, appreciate and admire. Without each and every one of you and the untold and almost unmeasurable hours everyone puts in creating this environment we'd be witness to an empty shell. It would be like Gertrude Stein's mistaken description of Oakland, "there'd be no there there."
There is a here here. It is palpable and very real. With a group like this it's never about anything larger than the people themselves. Nor should it be. So Howie is absolutely right. I thank each of you for the environment I get to enjoy and the safety and friendship it produces. A bright group of friends is a rare commodity. It would be cutting off one's nose to spite one's face to not partake and enjoy here if there is opportunity to do so.