I'm an original OC board member too! I still remember finding the OC forums...I'd googled stocking stuffers and stumbled across pure gold! LOL
I do know what u mean about how busy the old boards used to be. Things would really get hopping...especially around this time of year. Things tend to run in cycles...folks get busy...etc.
But even if we drift away for a while we all seem to drift back again.
And yes, we do cover a lot of the same topics from year to year...but I remind myself that even if I've shared an idea in years past, readers this year may.not have heard it before. My apologies to those of you with really good memories that I may have been repeating myself to!
What I love about this site is that even if the topic is one we've covered a dozen times before, it is rare to not have some new twist or nuance surface.
Ill be completely honest here...I "lost" my family, my entire social structure, at a young age. I wasn't raised to celebrate Christmas, to know how to cook or bake or craft or take any joy from life. I had to build from the ground up...in so many areas of my life.
All of you...on this board and on the old OC boards...you have been my sisters, my aunts, my cousins...your advice, your common sense, your humor and your bone deep, unfailing kindness have truly truly been a huge thing to me. An epiphany I only had fairly recently.
You are all fantastic!
Post when you can...if you usually read but hesitate to post out.of shyness, just know that on this site you have found one of the best places on the net...everyone is always so kind...and we love new thoughts and ideas!
Ok ... I'm done now. Sorry for the heavy! I'm going to go drink my wine now.