Dan Murphy
We are family.
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2000
- Messages
- 84,423
I originally posted most of this back 20 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, hopeful thoughts for the New Year, 2026 now. Except for a very few annual changes, just the 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 maybe kind of thought 2025 would hopefully see the end of COVID. Well, it’s still here, not as bad, still popping up every so often, but still seems like it will continue be with us for a long time. There's still continues a real war going on in Europe with Russia still attacking Ukraine, amazingly now for almost four years. The Middle East issues seem eternal, though hopefully not. Hopefully, good and right will prevail in both areas of the world and everywhere, with wishful thoughts, 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 and thoughts of comfort follow you. For those dealing with aches, pains and serious ailments, our prayers and thoughts of comfort are with you for improvement over this 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 shortcomings, for sure, but it still remains dear to me (sometimes I question that), and to many others, for various reasons. On the plus side, the changes made here over the past couple years have been very welcome. TPTB continue to do well. One of the big reasons (maybe the biggest) attraction for me here on the DIS are the friendships I have made here over the past almost 27 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, Marie and I are still holding at 5 grandkids, I'm pretty sure that’s it (maybe change that pretty sure to very sure, ha). Marie still enjoys getting Vince and Katlyn's Delaney all the girlie stuff. She and her brothers, 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 19 to Delaney's almost age 10, a young lady. Yikes!!
Marie is coming up in a month on the 28-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, 81 and 78 now, which we both will gladly accept at our ages. I've now been retired five years from my 45-year financial planning career, still 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 have met up in real life and have become real-life friends. And sometimes, actually very good real-life friends. It is a nice community, despite its shortcomings, and now very few of those. But, as said above, the improvements really seem to be here, and more coming. The previous 'stifling' atmosphere from past years definitely seems to have left the room.
Sure, there are the rare arguments, name-calling, disagreements, I'm-going-to-take-a-break announcements, an infrequent YAGE once in awhile and what-have-you (all now pretty confined to the CT board, a great addition a year or so back), but generally, in the end, still friends. Hopefully, all can be friends in 2026, 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 2026?
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 2025 year too, would love to see others in 2026. I have that now almost 20 year old Are You a DIS Oldtimer (or New)? thread I posted years back and now 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 2026 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 maybe kind of thought 2025 would hopefully see the end of COVID. Well, it’s still here, not as bad, still popping up every so often, but still seems like it will continue be with us for a long time. There's still continues a real war going on in Europe with Russia still attacking Ukraine, amazingly now for almost four years. The Middle East issues seem eternal, though hopefully not. Hopefully, good and right will prevail in both areas of the world and everywhere, with wishful thoughts, 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 and thoughts of comfort follow you. For those dealing with aches, pains and serious ailments, our prayers and thoughts of comfort are with you for improvement over this 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 shortcomings, for sure, but it still remains dear to me (sometimes I question that), and to many others, for various reasons. On the plus side, the changes made here over the past couple years have been very welcome. TPTB continue to do well. One of the big reasons (maybe the biggest) attraction for me here on the DIS are the friendships I have made here over the past almost 27 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, Marie and I are still holding at 5 grandkids, I'm pretty sure that’s it (maybe change that pretty sure to very sure, ha). Marie still enjoys getting Vince and Katlyn's Delaney all the girlie stuff. She and her brothers, 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 19 to Delaney's almost age 10, a young lady. Yikes!!
Marie is coming up in a month on the 28-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, 81 and 78 now, which we both will gladly accept at our ages. I've now been retired five years from my 45-year financial planning career, still 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 have met up in real life and have become real-life friends. And sometimes, actually very good real-life friends. It is a nice community, despite its shortcomings, and now very few of those. But, as said above, the improvements really seem to be here, and more coming. The previous 'stifling' atmosphere from past years definitely seems to have left the room.
Sure, there are the rare arguments, name-calling, disagreements, I'm-going-to-take-a-break announcements, an infrequent YAGE once in awhile and what-have-you (all now pretty confined to the CT board, a great addition a year or so back), but generally, in the end, still friends. Hopefully, all can be friends in 2026, 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 2026?
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 2025 year too, would love to see others in 2026. I have that now almost 20 year old Are You a DIS Oldtimer (or New)? thread I posted years back and now 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 2026 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
We all live in a pretty small world
We are all pretty much alike
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
We all live in a pretty small world
We are all pretty much alike
spelling
.
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. I smile when I see your name. You are a legend here, on the Dis. This place would not be the same without you. You welcome strangers and long time friends alike, with open arms. If we could call you the Dad of the Disboards, thats the name I would give you. You welcomed me when I joined (back in 2002) on our very first trip with our little kids, all men now. I just wanted to thank you, for being such a special, genuine person. Maybe one day we can meet up, but I feel like we already met. I may come and go here, but you always make everyone feel like they belong. Happy New Year, to you and Marie!
