Dan Murphy
We are family.
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2000
- Messages
- 83,735
I originally posted most of this back 19 years ago, New Year's Eve of 2005. Since then, I have dragged out the words I posted here to sort of make up a new thread, revised them a bit, adding whatever updates and a few thoughts from the current year. Except for a very few changes, same post.
(for those who have read this in past years, this below is pretty much of a repeat, with a few new thoughts added)
Over the past year, so much has again happened, for us, for others, here and worldwide. At this time, 12 months ago, we thought 2024 would hopefully see the end of COVID. Well, it’s still here, not as bad, but now seems like it will continue be with us for a long time. There's still a real war going on in Europe with Russia still attacking Ukraine, now for almost three years. And another conflagration that erupted in the Middle East in 2023 is well over a year old. Hopefully, good and right will prevail in both areas of the world, hopefully someday, peace.
Here on the DIS, there have been parents, children, spouses, family members and friends some of us have lost over this past year. We miss all our DIS friends who have passed over the years. For you, those left behind, our prayers of comfort follow you. For those dealing with aches, pains and serious ailments, our prayers are with you for improvement over the coming year and beyond. And we certainly continue to miss the many who are no longer here on the DIS, for many and various reasons. That sadness is tempered a bit as we welcomed new DIS babies along the way, new DIS brides and grooms, new DIS members to this little loony, often dysfunctional place on the Net. This place has many shortcomings, for sure, but still remains dear to me (sometimes I question that), and to many others, for various reasons. On the plus side, we have seen several very big, important changes here over this year and the year before. And do expect more in the future. One of the big reasons (maybe the biggest) attraction for me are the friendships I have made here over the past almost 26 years I've been here, having started my 'DIS days' back in March of '99. However, I do miss many though, some immensely. Of the many, many who are no longer here, I do still keep in frequent contact with a number of these great people.
On the personal front, my sister, Maureen, passed away in August . With my brother having passed last year, it's now down to me as the only one left of my immediate family. Marie and I are still holding at 5 grandkids, I'm pretty sure that’s it. Marie still loves getting Vince and Katlyn's Delaney all the girlie stuff, actually Stitch stuff, same as last year. She and her bothers, Keegan and Griffin, along with their two cousins, Natalie's Jeremy and Christopher, bring much joy and many smiles to both Marie and me. These kids are really growing up, from Jeremy's almost age 18 to Delaney's almost age 9. Yikes!!
Marie is coming up in a month on the 27-year mark in remission from stage III breast cancer back in 1998. Our family trip to Disney World in late '99 to celebrate Marie's return to health is what actually led me to this place, researching and planning our then upcoming trip. We both are another year older than we were last year, 80 and 77 now, which we both will gladly accept at our ages. I've now been retired four years from my 45-year financial planning career, enjoying not knowing Wednesdays from Saturdays.
As the year runs short of hours here, I would like to wish everyone here and elsewhere a very Happy, Healthy, Safe, Blessed, Productive and Good New Year.
Many of us have become friends over the years here, having met in this crazy world we call....online, and have become cyber friends, buddies, online friends here on the DIS. And, many of us have, over time, actually met up in real life and became real-life friends from folks we have met here on the DIS. And sometimes, actually very good real-life friends. It is a nice community, despite its shortcomings. And Lord knows it has many. But, as said above, improvements really seem to be here, and more coming. The previous 'stifling' atmosphere certainly seems to have gone from the room.
Sure, there are arguments, name-calling, disagreements, I'm-going-to-take-a-break announcements, an infrequent YAGE once in awhile and what-have-you, but generally, in the end, still friends. Hopefully, all can be friends in 2025, making for an even better community. Pixie dust maybe, but hey, who knows? It would be great to see many who no longer can be here for various reasons, to again be here to share the friendships. Maybe for 2025?
I hear this song every year at this time, thought it had some good things to say, some true things. Yeah, it's by that sort of ancient, cheesy group, ABBA (I really do like some of their music and sound), but still, give a listen, read the lyrics, I found they can ring so very true as we continue to grow older,....together
You and I can share the silence
Finding comfort together
The way old friends do
And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other
The way old friends do
Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
Oh I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together
The way old friends do
You and I can share the silence
Finding comfort together
The way old friends do
And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other
The way old friends do
Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
Oh I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together
The way old friends do
We can face it together
The way old friends do
--Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
.......I like to think good things, good things that have been, good things that could be again.
Anyway, enough of all that.............
Happy New Year, guys.
These thoughts still ring true.
Dan
PS: It is so nice to see those who have returned over this past 2024 year too, would love to see others in 2025. I have that now almost 19 year old Are You a DIS Oldtimer (or New)? thread I posted years back linked in my signature. It is always nice, really nice, to see folks who have been missing for months or years pop back in to say hello. I smile when I see those people pop in for a hello, great memories. I wish others who can't pop in would be able to. Some I dearly miss, very, very much.
Again, a very Healthy, Happy and Good 2025 New Year wish to everyone.
(for those who have read this in past years, this below is pretty much of a repeat, with a few new thoughts added)
Over the past year, so much has again happened, for us, for others, here and worldwide. At this time, 12 months ago, we thought 2024 would hopefully see the end of COVID. Well, it’s still here, not as bad, but now seems like it will continue be with us for a long time. There's still a real war going on in Europe with Russia still attacking Ukraine, now for almost three years. And another conflagration that erupted in the Middle East in 2023 is well over a year old. Hopefully, good and right will prevail in both areas of the world, hopefully someday, peace.
Here on the DIS, there have been parents, children, spouses, family members and friends some of us have lost over this past year. We miss all our DIS friends who have passed over the years. For you, those left behind, our prayers of comfort follow you. For those dealing with aches, pains and serious ailments, our prayers are with you for improvement over the coming year and beyond. And we certainly continue to miss the many who are no longer here on the DIS, for many and various reasons. That sadness is tempered a bit as we welcomed new DIS babies along the way, new DIS brides and grooms, new DIS members to this little loony, often dysfunctional place on the Net. This place has many shortcomings, for sure, but still remains dear to me (sometimes I question that), and to many others, for various reasons. On the plus side, we have seen several very big, important changes here over this year and the year before. And do expect more in the future. One of the big reasons (maybe the biggest) attraction for me are the friendships I have made here over the past almost 26 years I've been here, having started my 'DIS days' back in March of '99. However, I do miss many though, some immensely. Of the many, many who are no longer here, I do still keep in frequent contact with a number of these great people.
On the personal front, my sister, Maureen, passed away in August . With my brother having passed last year, it's now down to me as the only one left of my immediate family. Marie and I are still holding at 5 grandkids, I'm pretty sure that’s it. Marie still loves getting Vince and Katlyn's Delaney all the girlie stuff, actually Stitch stuff, same as last year. She and her bothers, Keegan and Griffin, along with their two cousins, Natalie's Jeremy and Christopher, bring much joy and many smiles to both Marie and me. These kids are really growing up, from Jeremy's almost age 18 to Delaney's almost age 9. Yikes!!
Marie is coming up in a month on the 27-year mark in remission from stage III breast cancer back in 1998. Our family trip to Disney World in late '99 to celebrate Marie's return to health is what actually led me to this place, researching and planning our then upcoming trip. We both are another year older than we were last year, 80 and 77 now, which we both will gladly accept at our ages. I've now been retired four years from my 45-year financial planning career, enjoying not knowing Wednesdays from Saturdays.
As the year runs short of hours here, I would like to wish everyone here and elsewhere a very Happy, Healthy, Safe, Blessed, Productive and Good New Year.
Many of us have become friends over the years here, having met in this crazy world we call....online, and have become cyber friends, buddies, online friends here on the DIS. And, many of us have, over time, actually met up in real life and became real-life friends from folks we have met here on the DIS. And sometimes, actually very good real-life friends. It is a nice community, despite its shortcomings. And Lord knows it has many. But, as said above, improvements really seem to be here, and more coming. The previous 'stifling' atmosphere certainly seems to have gone from the room.
Sure, there are arguments, name-calling, disagreements, I'm-going-to-take-a-break announcements, an infrequent YAGE once in awhile and what-have-you, but generally, in the end, still friends. Hopefully, all can be friends in 2025, making for an even better community. Pixie dust maybe, but hey, who knows? It would be great to see many who no longer can be here for various reasons, to again be here to share the friendships. Maybe for 2025?
I hear this song every year at this time, thought it had some good things to say, some true things. Yeah, it's by that sort of ancient, cheesy group, ABBA (I really do like some of their music and sound), but still, give a listen, read the lyrics, I found they can ring so very true as we continue to grow older,....together
You and I can share the silence
Finding comfort together
The way old friends do
And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other
The way old friends do
Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
Oh I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together
The way old friends do
You and I can share the silence
Finding comfort together
The way old friends do
And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other
The way old friends do
Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
Oh I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together
The way old friends do
We can face it together
The way old friends do
--Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
.......I like to think good things, good things that have been, good things that could be again.
Anyway, enough of all that.............
Happy New Year, guys.
These thoughts still ring true.
Dan
PS: It is so nice to see those who have returned over this past 2024 year too, would love to see others in 2025. I have that now almost 19 year old Are You a DIS Oldtimer (or New)? thread I posted years back linked in my signature. It is always nice, really nice, to see folks who have been missing for months or years pop back in to say hello. I smile when I see those people pop in for a hello, great memories. I wish others who can't pop in would be able to. Some I dearly miss, very, very much.
Again, a very Healthy, Happy and Good 2025 New Year wish to everyone.
New Year’s Prayer
by Charlotte Anselmo
Thank you Lord for giving me
The brand new year ahead
Help me live the way I should
As each new day I tread.
Give me gentle wisdom
That I might help a friend
Give me strength and courage
So a shoulder I might lend.
The year ahead is empty
Help me fill it with good things
Each new day filled with joy
And the happiness it brings.
Please give the leaders of our world
A courage born of peace
That they might lead us gently
And all the fighting cease.
Please give to all upon this earth
A heart that’s filled with love
A gentle happy way to live
With Your blessings from above
.
by Charlotte Anselmo
Thank you Lord for giving me
The brand new year ahead
Help me live the way I should
As each new day I tread.
Give me gentle wisdom
That I might help a friend
Give me strength and courage
So a shoulder I might lend.
The year ahead is empty
Help me fill it with good things
Each new day filled with joy
And the happiness it brings.
Please give the leaders of our world
A courage born of peace
That they might lead us gently
And all the fighting cease.
Please give to all upon this earth
A heart that’s filled with love
A gentle happy way to live
With Your blessings from above
.
