Our fate is sealed? Wow. I know it’s not intended to, but it sure makes me feel awful.
I know this Board is the last of the Rocketown message boards in existence. That gives it’s death an extra amount of gravity does it not? Add to that, many of you go back pretty far with me and, more importantly, with each other - as much as seven years back. So this is heavy. I get that. And I feel I need to address it somehow, but I’m not sure what to say. So I’ll ramble as always.
With a lot of love and hard work from Nancy over the years you guys have been the closest thing to community to each other as is possible on-line. And your affection for one another has spilled over into the real world too - beautiful to see.
A different but equally potent kind of community is happening on the blog too now. I hope you’ll stick around and be part of it.
People posting in the comments email each other, gather at my shows, share a meal and miss one another when someone doesn’t speak up for far too long. It’s different, yes, but it’s a form of community too.
Now, there’s no need to fret just yet about the impending plug-pulling on this thing. I have a lot going on in my life right now - to be announced soon - and so I don’t have the time to revise this site immediately. I’m planning the revisions but won’t actually get to do any of the revising for several weeks. I’ll be sure to give you very advanced notice of it’s final day.
Now, an apology. In the haste of commenting on my blog while working on other stuff I “announced” that this Board was going bye-bye. I meant to, and should have, told you guys first. My mistake. I slipped up and I’m very sorry. The hazards of multi-tasking and being far too busy with too many things to do all of them well.
One last thing. A reminder. You don’t need me or my site to be who you are to each other. This Board has never been about me ever - no matter how hard label and I tried ; ) - it’s been about you. Please find a way to be in each others’ lives somewhere at least some of the time when this Board is gone. IM works. CMCentral has a forum. Nancy could always start a Board for her radio show. You guys could go in together and for a couple hundred bucks you could help her make that happen - if she wants it. There’s no reason what you have here has to end. Take it with you, improve upon it, expand it, keep it going. If you love it as much as I think you do, keep it alive.
You’re like the Inklings meeting in a bar every week to talk life. If they tore down the bar do you think C.S.Lewis and Tolkien would have stopped sharing a pint and a joke? There are plenty of bars down the street, friends. Find one or build one, and drink up again.
Blessings to you,
-Shaun