I originally posted this back 13 years ago, New Year's Eve of 2005. Since then, I have dragged out the words I posted here to make up a new thread, revised them a bit, adding whatever updates and a few thoughts from the current year. I thought this year I'd do something different (still adding a few updates) and add a reply to this old thread (making it a zombie thread I guess,
), thinking that maybe some of the long lost posters from this old thread might get an email notice of a new post on it and stop by and say hello, along with anybody else here that might like to say hello.
(for those who have read this in past years, much is a repeat)
Over the past year, much has happened, both for us, and for others here.
Here on the dis, there have been parents, children, family members and friends some of us have lost over this past year.
's For those dealing with aches, pains and more serious ailments, our prayers are with you for improvement over the coming year. 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. One of the big reasons (maybe the biggest) for me is the friendships I have made here over the past almost 20 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 contact with a number of these great people.
On the personal front, we are still holding at 5 grandkids. Marie still loves getting Vince and Katlyn's Delaney all the girlie stuff. 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.
Marie is a month short of the 21 year mark in remission from stage III breast cancer back in 1998.
Our family trip to Disney World in '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, which we both will gladly settle for at our ages.
As the year runs short of hours here, I would like to wish everyone here, and elsewhere, a very Happy, Healthy, Blessed and Good New Year.
Many of us became friends over the years here, having met in this crazy world we call.....online; and have become cyber friends, buddies, online friends. And, many of us have, over time, actually met up in real life and became real-life friends, and sometimes, very good real-life friends. It is a nice community, in spite of many of its shortcomings. And Lord knows it has many.
Sure, there are arguments, name-calling, disagreements, what-have-you, but generally, in the end, friends. Hopefully, all can be friends in 2019, 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 to again share here. 
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 true......................
The Way Old Friends Do
(click for sound)
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.
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 2018 year too, would love to see others in 2019.
I have that now almost thirteen year old 'Oldtimers' thread I posted years back linked in my signature. It is always nice, real nice
, to see folks who have been missing for months or years pop back 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 New Year wish to everyone.
Happy New Year Dan. 
You are always so good at capturing a common 'feel good' tone and sharing it here. Thank you. 
