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Looking back
Posted By: LaZorra, on host 66.82.9.66
Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at 17:20:07

A couple of weeks ago, the Chat conversation turned towards when each person had first shown up on RinkWorks. I knew I'd been here about four years because I remembered I came just a little bit before the "first" RinkAwards ceremony, but I went to the message forum to see when I'd first posted. April 12, 2001, it was. It feels like it's been longer than that and it feels like it's been just the other day.

I couldn't help but look over some of the other posts I'd posted since then. Some made me cringe at my immaturity; some amazed me. I still can't believe the one I wrote defending capital punishment when the whole Timothy McVeigh thing was going on.

There were posts about my algebra class--the same algebra class that my brother, four years younger than I am, is now taking--and my horrible allergies, the heartbreak I went through with the horses that used to live next door, my fear of taking driver's training (which my brother will be going through shortly), classic TV, and silly costumes I'd had for Halloween. There was one post in which I had to explain that I lived in California and one in which I was rather ashamed to admit for the first time (here, at least) that I collected dolls. There were posts to people long gone that I haven't thought about in years. Ones about how much I was NOT looking forward to the Lord of the Rings movies coming out because I was absolutely certain they would murder the books. (I'm just now seeing them for the first time.) There were several posts about life in rural California--moving a generator throught the snow with my herniated father was my favorite--and some about Scouting activites.

Then there were posts about my getting ready for college and my thoughts and fears about having to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Having read back on those, I realize that even though I'm nowhere near figuring it out for good, I have narrowed down my options quite a bit.

I found several travel posts that brought back a lot of memories. There were random, silly posts I don't ever remember making, like an entire thread on the use of smilies. (Actually, now I *do* remember that.)

Then, moving closer to the present, I found posts about the equestrian team and my shows, then posts about COATI and more recent things.

I am amazed at how much I've changed and grown as a result of being a part of this community. I've gone from being a very shy, silly, superficial young teenager to being a somewhat less shy and extremely zany young adult capable of thoughtful conversation. And somehow, along the way, you all have gone from being faceless, slightly intimidating names in netherspace to being very real friends. I didn't fully realize until just now how much RinkWorks and its community means to me, but it means a heck of a lot. Thanks for making my life a little fuller and a lot more fun.

La"Providing your RDA of sappiness since 1985"Zorra

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