And this is a little embarrassing, but my excuse is that I was a DU.2 mod, a DU.3 host and then I joined MIRT. So I guess all those posts added up. Thank you, my DU friends, for your very kind messages.
And I also blame my first DU friend, DU's one person welcoming committee, newyawker99, for welcoming me to DU in early 2003. She welcomed everyone, but never have posted on any internet message board before, her kind message convinced me to stay. She also became my first friend here and I want to thank everyone who replied to (my friend) question everything's kind post.
Not to mention my gratitude. The reason I came here to begin with was that 9/11 totally scared me witless and I decided that I needed to start paying much closer attention. And I continue to learn so much here about what is happening in this country and the world each and every day... 
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