Happy Birthday, Fire Ball!!

[sherrie87]

MB said:

I've been working on my 'birthday post' for Meat, but it's coming very slowly. Did you ever have something that you wanted/needed to write/say, and you KNOW how you want it to be, but it just doesn't come out right? "And I struggle with words but they put up a fight"... It's a little like pulling teeth--it comes a little bit at a time....very frustrating. So, I apologize for not having my story up here yet. It's coming, but it's nowhere near ready to share....soon, I hope, though. Time is getting short!!

MB, truer words were never spoken (typed?)! I was writing the card I told you about via PM yesterday and I could scarcely put a coherent sentence together. How frustrating! Hopefully I ended up making a bit of sense, as it is in the mailbox now.

Ow, another day of waiting to get off work so I can view the countdown surprise- these darn computers at work are so old and raggedy that they won't play them! Still, it does give me quite a treat in the evening.

Wishing a good day to every one!

Sherrie

[shadow1000001]

Thanks for the clip MB. That was the first time I ever saw that video. I enjoyed it very much


Maria

[sherrie87]

Wow, that is also the first time that I have seen that video. Do you know what year it was released? I love all the different costumes in it, especially the first scene with the cute little ponytail and (most of all) the bits with the tuxedo. That tux is just a preview of an Academy Awards ceremony not far in the future- I bet there's a supporting actor award in Meat's future, Oscar would like good sitting next to the Grammy.

Sherrie

[MBrevard]

Hi! Happy Thursday to everyone.

Thanks Plukie, Maria and Sherrie. No, sorry, I don't have a specific date on the clip, Sherrie. But the song was on the Bad Attitude album, so we must be talking about 1984 or so. It is an interesting music video, though.

Been a fairly quiet day in 'birthday town' today, but that's okay. Perhaps, it's the quiet before the storm, as they say.

Had a pretty good day here. Went to our local K-Mart, where they had three copies of CHSIB on the shelves. Don't know how many they had to begin with. But two of them were on an end cap, so I have hopes that there were lots of others in the same location to begin with. It's on sale right now--normally $14.99--this week: $11.99. A real bargain at any price, if you ask me!!!

Anyway, it still feels incredible to walk into a store and see it there on the shelves. We've all waited such a long time for this!!! It's a great feeling!! This, in and of itself, is a wonderful early birthday present for Meat, isn't it?!!

Also received a notice in my email from VH-1, who is apparently pushing the CD as well. That was good to see. If y'all want to go by Meat's section of their website, you can rate the album from 1 to 5. When I voted, it was currently at 5.0!!

Well, that time again, friends:

It's CountDown to B-day and only:

TWO DAYS TO GO!!

I will leave you with my Meaty birthday surprise of the day.

Continued good wishes to all of you! Have a great day and hope you will continue to add your birthday thoughts and wishes to this thread as the days go on!!

Lots of love,
MB
xxx

[Rob The Badger]

I like meat.

[mariella]

Hi everyone!

Am listening to todays surprise, absolutely beautiful, Thank you!

It must be an amazing feeling, yes, to just see copies of CHSIB, finally.
I agree, a bargain at Any price.

I didn't even know there was a VH1 website , found it and also voted (I think), hope I didn't have to register first. It was still at 5.0 (ofcourse!)

I am just wondering, since sales seem to be going really well also, based on Amazon. When will we know anything about the charts?

Will be here Saturday, but it will still be Friday in the US, strange thing, time!
Anyway, think it's a wonderful idea to call/mail stations all over the world.
Leah, when you say 'at 2', you mean in the afternoon, right?
Did everyone find the radio-locator at CHSIB-promo? Very helpful!
This will be So much fun!

'See' you all later!

Love,

Mariella

[Testify]

I havent got a story. i got into meat when i was little when my mum played him and i have liked him ever since, more so in the past few years. Just want to say thankyou for all the happy moments you have given me!

So im just gonna say, have a great day meat, you deserve it!!!! love ya :P

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by Testify

I havent got a story. i got into meat when i was little when my mum played him and i have liked him ever since, more so in the past few years. Just want to say thankyou for all the happy moments you have given me!

So im just gonna say, have a great day meat, you deserve it!!!! love ya :P

What a great message Testify ... and I LOVE that new avatar !!
Vicki

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by mariella

It must be an amazing feeling, yes, to just see copies of CHSIB, finally.
I agree, a bargain at Any price.

Absolutely Mariella :)

I noticed the same lack of copies as MB at 2 of my local Kmart stores
... but they started out with a lot on hand at both Best Buy and Borders, which means that they're expecting to sell a lot of copies

Originally Posted by mariella

I am just wondering, since sales seem to be going really well also, based on Amazon. When will we know anything about the charts?

Will be here Saturday, but it will still be Friday in the US, strange thing, time!
Anyway, think it's a wonderful idea to call/mail stations all over the world.
Leah, when you say 'at 2', you mean in the afternoon, right?
Did everyone find the radio-locator at CHSIB-promo? Very helpful!
This will be So much fun!

'See' you all later!

Love,

Mariella

I don't know about the charts .. I checked a lot of them today, and couldn't find CHSIB listed anywhere
But you're absolutely right .. the song request idea is a great one !!

Vicki

[Vickip]

Since I posted my first message on the birthday countdown, we've had some great news about the store. It's going to take time, but we're rebuilding and will be opening again soon :)

But re-reading my message right now I realized I forgot to wish Meat a Happy Birthday

So Happy Birthday Meat !!
Enjoy your special day with the ones you care about the most.

May you achieve all the success you truly deserve for the wonderful CD and music you have given us ... and may you always stay Forever Young !!

Love Vicki

[Cathie]

I haven’t got any real stories. I have loved Meat since I was little. I used to steal my dad’s tapes and one day I was looking for something new…found this tape of Bat Out Of Hell. I loved the cover so I borrowed it (put it this way, I now have the album on CD and my dad still hasn’t gotten his copy back). I was hooked from the start, I couldn’t get over the power and passion of this guy, whatever kind of song he was singing.
I’ve had a bad few years lately and music has helped me through it, it’s an escape. Meat is the BEST singer and the greatest guy ever…and if Meat wasn’t around then I wouldn’t have met people on here and I wouldn’t have some of the great friends that I have now.
Bad things are getting better this year, better than they have been for years. I’m having the time of my life. And Meat’s music is as good as ever.
Happy Birthday Meat!


Love
Cathie xx

[Jen]

Some really great stories here and MB all the surpises are wonderful, thanks for sharing all.

I've no stories to tell, have liked Meat's music for a while now though only really got into it in the last year or so, and because of that now have some really great friends that I will be forever thankful for.

So really just want to thank the big man for everything and wish him all the best.

Happy birthday Meat!!!
Hope you have a great time

Love Jen
xxx

[shadow1000001]

Thank you MB for sharing that clip. I love "Left in the Dark" but it makes me want to cry everytime I hear it
Vicki, that is excellent news about the store. I am very happy for you and your family and if it makes you feel any better, I forgot to wish Meat a Happy Birthday too so here goes:

I hope that you have an excellent birthday Meat, you deserve it


Maria

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by shadow1000001

Thank you MB for sharing that clip. I love "Left in the Dark" but it makes me want to cry everytime I hear it
Vicki, that is excellent news about the store. I am very happy for you and your family and if it makes you feel any better, I forgot to wish Meat a Happy Birthday too so here goes:

I hope that you have an excellent birthday Meat, you deserve it


Maria

Hi Maria !

I'm glad I wasn't the only one that forgot

I feel exactly the same way about Left In The Dark ... it makes me cry too. And thank you ... it's been a big struggle, but hopefully we'll be up and running again soon :)

Vicki

[MBrevard]

Hi, friends. Well, we're getting down to the wire now, aren't we!

Thanks, everyone, for the great responses today. Eyeore, since you feel that way, you're certainly in the right place! Vicki, WONDERFUL news about the store. I hope and pray it all works out for you and your parents!! Testify--so nice to see you here and I, too, LOVE the new avatar!! Mariella, Cathie, Jen, Maria--thank you for helping to make this thread a special one for Meat and for us all. (I have no idea when to begin looking for CHSIB in the charts, but it's only been since Tuesday, so I would imagine it probably wouldn't be any earlier than this weekend or early next week, perhaps???)

Hope everyone will all be able to stop by on Meat's birthday to join in the fun and festivities!!

Well, today it's my turn to share some of my Meaty experiences and why I feel the way I do. And, of course, my birthday wishes. Sorry that it's taken me so long to put it all together. It was hard to put my feelings into words.

I apologize in advance because I know this post will be long. It is not a story I can tell in just a paragraph or two. So, for those of you who do not like long messages, please skip on down to the "surprise of the day," if you wish. I will not be insulted in the least! These are things I HAVE to say and I HAVE to say them THIS YEAR! (That will become clearer in a few minutes, I hope.)

I have to go back a bit, before I can move forward. So a little history: A few of you already know most of this. But many of you do not.

Those of you who have read some of my earlier posts, have heard me say that I have lived an insular life, fairly isolated, especially in the last several years.

The reason for this is that I am an Agoraphobic and have been for most, if not all, of my life, as my mother was before me. For those of you who have not heard that term, I suffer from an extreme form of Panic Disorder (they also refer to it as "Social Anxiety" these days).

Growing up was rough--on many counts--but on this subject, no one ever told me what I had. I just grew up being incredibly shy and aloof, feeling alone and a bit freakish, I suppose. A lot of kids grow up that way for various reasons. So, I know that some of you will understand what I'm trying to say here. We can even look at Meat and what he went through in his childhood! Life is not easy for a child who is 'different' in some way...

I don't know if you've ever seen any movies, read any books or known anyone in your lives who have had this problem where it reached a point where they could not leave their home, because of overwhelming fear. They become what is referred to as "housebound."

Well, friends, I have been housebound many times over the years. This last time, it went on so long that I actually believed I was never going to leave my home again. I was just going to live and die there. And that was it. I was in my house without leaving for EIGHT LONG YEARS!! This is not something I normally discuss in a public forum. I do talk about it privately, sometimes. But, it's never easy to admit all this.

And I realize that it's probably hard for most of you to imagine this kind of life. And that's okay. Maybe it's better that way. This is the way my life is and I have always tried to make the best of it.

But, even after giving up hope of ever leaving, after all those years, I did manage, somehow, to fight my way out of my house. I reached a point where I could, with the help of some medication, both natural and prescriptive, once again, go into some stores--do some shopping for my family, so that I didn't feel totally useless in this world. : roll : It was still an incredibly limited life--I couldn't go too far from my home and I couldn't do very much, but at least there were times when I was out...

I have come to the conclusion over the years, that being an Agoraphobic is a little like being an Alcoholic, in that it is something you have to fight every single day of your life. Some days are just a little easier than others. But it is a constant struggle. If you have fears of your own that you have fought in the past, then perhaps, you can imagine what it is like having to do that every single time you are about to walk out your front door. It's not an easy life. Certainly not one I would wish on anyone else. But I fully realize there are a lot of people who have it much worse than I because of things they are going through!!

Okay. So, that gives you a little background about myself. Now, Meat has come and gone from my life over the years, from the time he first got started. I would find him, then lose him for a while, then find him again.

Well, about 3 years ago or so, he magically came back into my life, along with all this glorious music--just at a time, as with many of you--when I needed them both desperately. I was going through a really bad patch, trying to fix up our home to sell it, so that we could get another home big enough to move my parents in with us to take care of them for the rest of their lives. And if something could go wrong, it did!! Between all of the problems with the fix-up and contemplating leaving the house I had been in for 25 years permanently, I'm sure that if I hadn't had Meat and the music in my life then, I would have either totally lost my mind or slit my wrists or something desperate. That, also, isn't easy to admit. But it's true. From the stories that have already been shared here, and all the others we have read throughout the net, I know that enough of you have had the same experience--that Meat and the songs have helped you through terrible times--and you will understand this.

And so, since that time, Meat has continued to be an important part of my life. The music played in my home every day. Every single day. It made life seem better--or at least, bearable.

I never believed I would ever get to see him perform live. He hadn't been to my area of the country since 1996. And I knew that even if he were to come here, because of the severity of my Panic Disorder, I probably couldn't go. So, I started collecting everything 'live' that I could get my hands on. That's where some of the items I have been sharing with you this week have come from. I had a 'need' to see him or hear him perform and this was the only way that I could find to fulfill that need.

Then, last year, I found out that he was going to be doing two concerts in Northern California. Neither of them was particularly close to where I live. The first one was 2 1/2 hours from my home and the second was about 4 1/2 hours away--farther than I had been in more years than I cared to think about.

But I wanted--no, NEEDED--desperately to see him, if there was any way that I could. And so, I took a deep, deep breath and we bought tickets to both events.

I didn't know if I could do this. I didn't know, if, on the day, I would even be able to walk out my front door. And even if I did manage to make it to the venue, I didn't know if I'd be able to stay. I didn't know if I would be able to tolerate the excitement, the noises, the crush of people. And I could just picture myself, in the middle of the concert, getting a Panic Attack and running, screaming down the aisle--"Let me outta here!!!" (People with this problem think strangely. Sorry. It goes along with the personality, I'm sorry to say. ) But I was SO scared, friends!! And yet, I wanted it so badly....

Anyway, I'd better move this story along or I'll never get to where I want to go. It had been 20 years or more since I had been to ANY concert of any kind. But with the help of medication to keep me calm, and Meat's music, playing on the car's stereo system, I DID make it to both concerts!! And what glorious experiences they were! I couldn't believe I was there and Meat was up on stage singing his heart out and the band was so wonderful... These are moments that I will hold close to my heart forever!!!! I know you all will understand that and feel the same way about the ML concerts YOU have experienced in the past!!

And so, afterwards, we came back home. I was SO proud for having accomplished this much. It was truly a HUGE step for me. And for a while, I felt a bit better about my life, and then, gradually, life went back to the way it had been.Thank heavens for this forum and you wonderful people here whom I've been fortunate enough to have met and gotten to know in the past year. You've helped to make a 'limited' life much more bearable, in having people one has something in common with to talk to!

But I was Meat-hungry after that. I wanted to see him again and prayed that he'd be coming back my way. I know I'm not saying anything here that each of you doesn't already understand. You can't just see Meat once or twice and have that be enough! You want to see him again!!!!!!!!!!! It's like my collecting the audios and videos--you can't just listen or watch ONE of them. You need to hear or see them ALL!!!!! Right??

And so, you can imagine my delight, when I saw that he was coming back to both the venues I had been to the year before. I had the confidence, since I had already been there, that I could get there again. But in addition, there were 6 other California/Nevada concerts that were possibilities, if I could gather up enough courage to try to get to them!

Of course, by this time, life had gotten more complicated with my parents now with us, plus our 5 dogs to look after. I'll tell ya, good parent-sitters are a LOT harder to find than good babysitters and many of you know how difficult THAT is!! So, it wasn't a matter of just picking up and going, even if I did decide to try.

Again, to move this belabored story along, we did get tickets for all 8 concerts. We made all the arrangements for the problems at home. And then, as you all know, a few days before the first concert was to happen, Meat went through his surgery. So, it and the next one in San Diego, were both cancelled, much to our sorrow--not only about missing the show, but also to hear what he had just gone through!!!

So, plans were put off again for a little while. We were left with 6 concerts, which were to fall in a 2 1/2 week period. And we made plans to be away for that entire time!! I can't even remember the last time I had been away from my house for so long! You see, this was quite an adventure--one that filled me with both excitement and terror.

The next concert was scheduled for Los Angeles. It had been 20 years or more since I had been that far into Southern California. It's about an 8-hour drive from my home. I had no idea if I could do this. The 4 1/2 hours to Kelseyville the year before had been enough of a challenge--to sit there and not scream...

But we did it! We made it there and went to the Universal Amphitheatre, where we thoroughly enjoyed both Cyndi and Meat and the band!

The next stop was Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It had been 28 years since we had last been there and to be honest, I thought I'd never see that town again. That was a 5 or 6 hour drive from LA. And we made it.

It was a VERY long drive next from Vegas all the way up to Reno--about 9 or 10 hours up some backroads on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I guess it had been many years since the last time we had gone to Reno for a few days.

A day or two later, we were off to Kelseyville, a 3 or 4 hour drive. And I was looking forward to coming back to one of the venues where I had had such a good time the year before. We made it there, but sadly, as you read in a thread I posted at the time, the audience immediately around us was so horrible, that it interferred with our ability to enjoy the show. But still, we were there! In the second row center, so close to Meat we could see the sweat on his upper lip. 'Miracles' were happening to me every day!

And then, once again, we had the long trek down south, as the next show was to be in Lancaster, CA. That was a part of California neither of us had been through before, and it was a good 10-hour drive from Kelseyville, through the Tehachapie Mountains, past "The World's Largest Wind Farm". What a ride! Then, as you know, Meat had to cancel that show because he had throat problems. We quickly left Lancaster and headed for our final destination--Anaheim, to get ready for the next night's concert there. But, sadly, that show was also cancelled.

So, to try to cheer me up, since I was so sad about missing the last two concerts, as I had missed my first two, we spent the next couple of days at Disneyland, a place we had not been for well over 20 years. I had given up ever seeing that again, too! It wasn't like seeing Meat, of course, but we had some fun.

And then we came home. When we got back, we figured out that we had travelled nearly 2500 MILES--we couldn't believe it! We ended up going to more venues than Meat did!!

And you know, friends, this time, I did it without one bit of medication--just Meat's music playing in the car!! And that, plus the desire and need to see him, got me through the rough, uncomfortable moments in the car and to each of our destinations!!

And while we were there, I did things that I had not done in years. We went to a movie theatre. That may not sound like anything to you, but I had not been able to sit in one, without panicking for more years than I want to admit!! I went on rides at Disneyland. We went to an IMAX movie, where they 'strap' you into your seat so you can't fall out, something that would have been so confining and so terrifying for me before that I could never had done it. I went to places and did things that I thought I would NEVER do again!!

And since we've been back home, we have continued to be active, when we can, under our particular circumstances. We just got back from another short trip to Reno, for instance--again with no medication, just the music to keep us going.

How can I describe to you what that kind of freedom is like after so many years of being confined?? I can't. I feel alive again--sort of like coming back from the dead, if that makes sense. And that's as close as I can come.

I have no illusions. It's still a daily struggle. But each successful outing makes the next one a little easier, and that is a kind of freedom that is more precious than anything you can imagine.

I could cry a million tears that would overflow my computer and fall through your monitors and flood your rooms and still, it would not be enough to share the depth of my feelings here or my gratitude for a life that has been changed, I believe, for the better!

And how do I say thank-you to the man who has helped me so far along my path?? How do ANY of us say thanks for the things that have happened to us because Meat is a part of our lives??

He didn't set out to do any of these things, you know? This was not his purpose for performing or recording. And yet, time and time again, we hear about something magical happening to someone because of him.

So, I guess, if I ever had the chance to speak with Meat, when he was feeling down or discouraged about something, I would say to him with great certainty that the things he has done all these years--all the music and performing--as well as the acting and the films--leave him and go out into the world, where they do more good than he could possibly imagine!!!

And my wish, for his birthday, is one I have made before. It is actually my continuing wish for him: That the pleasure, the excitement, the joy and the laughter his talent creates in the world should come back to him and bless his life a thousandfold!!

Meat, if you're out there, then please know how very, very proud we are of you and what you have done so far in your life and in your career!! And we look forward to seeing what lies in your future, knowing that it also lies in ours.

Here's wishing you the very best of Birthdays. Much health and happiness to you now and always!!!

And a big thank-you to all of YOU who managed to make it through this long post. I hope you can understand now, why I HAD to say these things this year!! I feel like I've been reborn into a brand new world. And that's the kind of joy one needs to share with friends and thank those who helped to make it happen!!

But now, since you've all been so very patient with me today:

It's CountDown to B-day and only:

ONE DAY TO GO!!

I have something VERY special for you today and I'm so excited to share it with you. Some of you will have already seen it, I know. There are some of you who have seen more than I can ever hope to!! But I think, even if that's the case, you'll enjoy seeing this again!!

Thank you again, friends. Please keep adding your Meaty stories and birthday wishes to the thread!! Meat's special day is nearly upon us!!

Take good care.

Love and peace to each and every one of you!
MB
xxx

[Vickip]

Thank you MB .... not only for your birthday surprises, and but for sharing your story as well. I truly wish you the best in everything you do.
It's amazing how much Meat and his music have truly touched all of our lives.

Vicki

[sherrie87]

MB,

Thank you for telling your story here, I know (far too well) how difficult it must have been to lay that all "out in the open". Thanks for all the effort you have put into, both this thread, and your post here. I think this is such a great "birthday present" for Meat, I hope he does get a chance to read everything- there was a lot of love, admiration and thankfulness poured out in the last few days.

Sherrie

[shadow1000001]

MB,

Where do I start? First I want to thank you for sharing all your surprises and most of all your story. Sherrie is right, it must of been extremely hard to "lay it all out in the open" and I must say that you have a courage that I probably could never posses. I was moved to tears reading your story but I was so impressed at the moxie you've shown to try and turn your life around. I am so happy for you, especially that you have been doing it without medication. It's amazing that Meat's music can touch so many people in so many different ways
On that sappy note I want to thank you again and I wish you all the best

Maria

[dottie]

Thank you MBrevard for taking the time and trouble to start this topic originally, thank you for opening up to all of us, I believe most of us have opened up one way and and another, at some time or another., on this forum

For you MBrevard -

Today I met a great new friend
Who knew me right away
It was funny how she understood
All I had to say

She listened to my problems
She listened to my dreams
We talked about love and life
She'd, been there, it seems

I never once felt judged by her
she seemed to just accept me
And all the problems I'd been dealt with

She didn't interrupt me
Or need to have her say
She just listened very patiently
And didn't go away

I wanted her to understand
How much this meant to me
But as I went to hug her
Something startled me

I put my arms in front of me
And went to pull her nearer
And realised that my new best friend
Was nothing but a mirror

[plukie]

From tears to laughter, from dispair to hope. How much more can one man give you!!

Thanks for sharing your life with us and an even bigger thank you for all you have done for Meats Birthday.

Pat xx

[MBrevard]

Oh, dear friends!! I don't even know what to say! Thank you SO much for all your words of love and encouragement both here and in private messages and emails!! I cannot begin to tell you what they mean to me! They made me cry--but happy tears. I don't think I've ever known such kindness on this particular subject before!! So, I will hold your thoughts close to my heart!

I feel like it's Meat's birthday and I'M the one getting the presents!

Several of you have written that you know someone else who has this problem--not as severe as mine has been, but still... There are a LOT of people in this world who suffer from Panic in one form or another. Please tell them NOT to give up!! If I can come this far, after being isolated for such a long time, THEY, too, can fight their way out of this to a better life!! Just tell them NEVER to give up hope or to give up trying!!

I've been working much of the night on tomorrow's celebration. I was getting sleepy until I came back here and read your messages. Now, I'm jazzed again and probably good for a couple more hours of work.

I hope you'll all be able to come by sometime during the 'festivities' and join in the celebration! It wouldn't be the same without you!!

Thank you again so much! You all have a special place in my heart!!

Have a great day! See you at the 'party.'

With much love,
MB
xxx

[mariella]

MB, thank you so much for sharing...you have a special place in my heart too.

Now, I can't wait for the party to begin! Because here in Europe Meat is about to become one year older. Strange thing, time.
Well, this will be a very Long september 27th! An extra-long and hopefully extra-special birthday!

Love,

Mariella

[MBrevard]

As Europe heads into the midnight hour, it's time to switch from CountDown to

BIRTHDAY PARTY CENTRAL!!

Welcome to our day-long celebration in honor of the man who brings us all together here!! So, stop on by, when you can, and say 'Hi.' And be sure to leave your birthday messages and wishes for Meat and let him know that you're thinking of him on his special day!!

We've got a lot of surprises coming along the way. So, come on in, kick your shoes off and make yourselves to home. There's nothing like celebrating a birthday with friends!!

Why don't we start off by pulling back the rug and making some room for dancing. Birthday Party Surprise #1 is actually something I posted here a couple weeks ago. But it's such a GREAT way to start a party, I couldn't resist sharing it again!!

Let's get this party rolling!!!

Whoooooeeee!!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEAT!!!!


Love to y'all!!
MB
xxx

[Guppie]

MB...

That took a lot of guts, to be so open and honest about your situation. I have great respect for that. I met a Dutch woman on the internet, suffering from the same thing. In Dutch, it's called "agora-fobie". Every day she struggles, forces herself to leave the house. It's goddamed hard...
For her, the internet is her lifeline, her way to keep in touch with people without having to leave her house.
Again: I have great respect for your courage.
Guppie

[MBrevard]

Thanks, Guppie! And welcome to Meat's Birthday Party!!

You tell the woman to hang in there and keep fighting this thing!! I understand entirely about the Internet being a lifeline!! I was SO isolated, myself, before the Net! Even if you have a lot of friends, after a while, they slowly disappear because they don't understand what is happening to you and why you can't do this and you can't go there...

Now, look at all of us in this forum, for example--I would never have gotten to know some many wonderful Dutch people or German or British, Australian, New Zealanders....The web has truly made this a better world, I think, for a lot of us (even with the problems it also brings along).

Anyway, thank you and a continued thanks to all of you who are writing to me privately, as well!! It's been quite a day for me here and it certainly has helped to put ME in a party mood!! Hope it's the same for the rest of you!!

Love you all,
MB
xxx