Today is my 20th anniversary at Democratic Underground. I migrated from
The Smirking Chimp and lurked for awhile before joining. I wanted to be at my 10,000th post before my anniversary, but fell short.
2004 was a dark period in my life and the kind folks at DU really helped me through it all. My husband and I were living in western NC and I had a job that I loved at a State university. Then duty called and I needed to move to GA to take care of my Dad and see him through to the end. My husband was also having health issues. He had cardiac issues as well as a below-the-knee amputation and I was worried about him getting around in all the ice/snow in the mountains. We made the move gradually over a period of about 5 months. In October I gave notice to my employer that my last day would be on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
On November 10th, my husband headed out to Georgia with our next-to-the-last load. He called me on Sunday to report how things were going and that was the last time I ever heard his voice. A couple of hours later, my sister called to say that he had collapsed in the kitchen at Dad's and the ambulance was on the way.
I made a few phone calls, threw some stuff in a bag, asked my neighbors to feed my cats and headed for GA. It was about 9:00 pm and I didn't stop until I got to Dad's about 4 hours later and found out that Bob had been pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. He had a myocardial infarction and it was over in an instant. I found out later that my brother had done CPR on him until the EMT arrived.
The next day, my step son and I made arrangements for cremation and I went back to NC. That week was the darkest time of my life. The angels truly held me aloft. I packed up the rest of our stuff and finished training my replacement at my job. The end of the week, family and friends gathered at their mountain house and we drove to the top of Bob's favorite mountain to scatter his ashes. We stood around and shared our favorite memories of him, sang Amazing Grace, and then released his ashes to the wind.
That afternoon, my sister, brother and SIL, best friend, stepson and a couple of friends loaded up the rest of my belongings. The next morning, we got the cats in their carriers and left for Georgia. And here I am and will remain until the grim reaper comes for me.
I am thankful for DU and the community of support I have found here. You have helped me through days when I nearly give up in frustration over living in redneckistan, the days of desperation of working with cat rescue, dealing with health issues and breast cancer. You have also celebrated with me the joys of just being alive and living in this beautiful, wonderful world. Thank you for being here.
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This year was my 20th anniversary as well and in that time, I've moved from Chicago to California to New England. 
that I loved him. I only wish I had told him that more often. I hope you and your DH have many more happy times together. 
And lots of love to you.
came to du because of an internet search accident and never looked back,
gore v bush gaffe.
Thank you for being an inspiration for strength and resilience.
I want to also thank you for your cat rescue work!
Congratulations! On persisting and enjoying life.
and glad you had the wonderful community here to see you through the rough patches.
Happy dancing for you for getting through the last 20 and sending those vibes so you can go another 20!
(PS your tuxie avatar has the same serious look that my sister's tuxie gets 
)
Also, the support you found here is why DU is an important community. Not only are we kept informed about things going on, but it is a wonderful collection of people from all corners and walks of life we feel kinship with. It is an online home.
Best wishes for more joys to come.
But sorry to hear of your personal challenges. You are a strong woman.
Hope you have a great day.
I just had my 20th back in May. Like you, so grateful for this place. Not sure how I would have survived without it.
Here's to you and me, my friend! 
all you do for kitties and for hosting the Fiction group.
We love you!
and recounting the dramatic journey you made through life's biggest stressors and still living through the 
years of drama with kitty rescue. You are an angel. It is an honor to hear your tale.
And Happy Anniversary. We're glad you're here.
You have helped people just as much as you were helped. I call that a win, win.
As has been said so many times, DU is family, always here 24/7 for those who need us. And I also spent time in Western NC, my grandmother retired (from NE New York) to a great retirement community in Black Mountain so I spent a lot of time there. And I also got to know many of her wonderful friends both in the retirement community and locals when she asked me to accompany the peace group she had joined to their initial visit to their "sister town" in the USSR! Amazing people and truly the trip of a lifetime!
Congratulations on 20 years, so grateful that you found us - and wishing you many, many more (10,000+++)! 
