Hi dear all! I've finally found the courage, if I can call it so, to join in again if I'm still welcome! I really wish to excuse myself with each and everyone of you for having vanished so abruptly at the end of last July without any notice! So, here I am again even if I might be more absent than present as compared to the old times since newer RL commitments have added themselves to my old list! I've had a rather rough summer (sorry again TJ for having you taste a bit of it when we finally had the so longed for occasion to meet in person, and thank you again with all my heart for your continous support with the equally precious one of CD! ), and am continuing to struggle with the aftermath since a lot of deep emotions were involved! At present I can say that now life has calmed down in a way, where serious health problems and really unexpected clashes in my family were involved, but it's easier to say that one can forget than the actual truth! ... especially when some issues are still pending! I'm ashamed of myself for having pushed many of those around me who truly care away in order to deal with things in my way and hence letting myself being caught in the spiral of a lot of mixed emotions without noticing any of the good things around at a certain point in time, but am very grateful to have had true friends, together with my dear DH and kids, who kept me going and helped me to find myself again! I couldn't keep on going that way, especially when my health was also being affected! I so regret to have not been able to share any joy or sooth any sadness of anyone of you, and to have missed out in all the fun regarding anything you might have contributed to the Gatchaman fandom ... again sorry for any kind of disrespect I might have shown in not sharing your company! I also wish to send belated "Happy Birthday" wishes to all of you friends of mine who have celebrated your birthday in any day during the period in which I was absent, and give a warm welcome to all those new members who might have joined lately! I have a lot to catch up with, including the reading of fanfics and all, but am so happy to have joined the fun again in some way! A big thank you to Amethyst for her kind gesture of organising the "Gift Exchange" again this year! Last year was awesome!

Gatchamarie!! Welcome back! Don't apologise for taking some (by the sounds of it) sorely needed down time! Trust me, I think most of us can certainly understand that RL has a horrible habit of intruding. I am sure none of us consider it disrespectful that you were doing what you needed to do - in fact, I think a lot of us can relate to needing to withdraw to deal with things when they become overwhelming. You have been missed and I am so sorry to hear that you've had such a rough time of it - especially since it also affected your health! I have my fingers and toes crossed that RL will continue to calm down further for you. again - you are more than still welcome and I, for one, am very glad to see you again!

Heya, Gatchamarie! Sorry to hear of your troubles, and glad to have you back!

Marie, welcome back. Your advice and insight have been missed around here, but I am glad things are settling down enough that you feel you have the time to return. Continue popping in and hopefully our lively banter and friendly conversations will continue to cheer you up and help with your return.

Never feel bad about putting you , your family and your health as a priority welcome back

I'm glad to see that things have calmed down enough for you to get back on the board,Marie! We're certainly glad to see you for as much (or as little) time as you can spare. You have been missed! Remember, when things in RL get you down, the world of Gatchaman will never let you down!

Gatchamarie, You are preaching to the choir with me. In the last ten years my immediate family has gone through; ALS, Parkinson's, Cancer, Stroke, heart surgery and my husband got a kidney transplant. Real Life is such a bummer, at times. My thoughts and goods wishes are with you.

Marie, so glad you are back. I hope life settles soon and returns to some resemblance of normal.

Marie, it's great that you have the chance to be back at Gatchamania. We'll always be here when you need us!

So wonderful to see you here, gatchamarie! You've been missed, though I can completely understand how real life sometimes demands all our time and energy and doesn't leave much for anything else. I hope you'll be able to drop in here now and then and that things get easier for you.

Glad to see you again.

Marie, we've missed you and understand your need to put RL first for a while. I hope things continue to get better and we can offer you some supportive relief.

I'll add my welcome back - and also the agreement that you have been missed very much. I'm sorry that RL has knocked you around so much, but I know that all of us here understand what it can do to you and that sometimes you just have to let some non-essential things drop. Please - use us as a place to vent, or just plain talk.

A big THANK YOU to all of you for the warm welcome back! I appreciate it a lot! I knew it was the right thing to do to join you folks again! I missed you so much also and I can't leave out the fact that you were constantly in my thoughts as I yearned for the good old times! An individual thank you is also sent to each and every one of you for your kind, caring words, which will surely be treasured! Hearing of others' misfortunes makes feel ashamed of myself for having let myself enter into such a self-pitiful and self-loathing mode, and makes me also feel grateful for the good things that are happening around me at present! Thanks again guys! Please know that I'd sincerely and happily be there for you whenever there'd be the need!

Originally posted by gatchamarieHearing of others' misfortunes makes feel ashamed of myself for having let myself enter into such a self-pitiful and self-loathing mode

Marie, please, never feel ashamed. Feel human. Those emotions are natural in the wake of events that are out of our control. We've all felt them, we've all dealt with them, some are just better at hiding them than others. It is nothing to be ashamed of. You coped in the best way you could, and now you are ready to enter the next stage of healing.

Gatchamarie, Your soul will find it's own way out of the dark. No one way is correct. But I love the fact that this site is a safe vent spot. I've used it like that. Here is my heartfelt thanks to you all for that.

Amethyst and Dragonsbain ... your words and understanding are so heartwarming! I guess I was caught at a time when things have been piling up one after the other, in a somewhat controllable manner, over the years and when I couldn't take any more in my capacity! Now that I've managed to empty the bottle once again, in some way or another, at least I hope this won't happen again any time soon!

Marie, My heart goes out to you and am sending hugs from cyberspace. Good luck with your RL concerns, and many blessings sent your way. It's always good to hang out somewhere you feel loved and appreciated. Everyone here is so wonderful and understanding. I know I myself haven't been around much lately due to RL so I can totally relate. Many sent your way.

Lots of hugs back to you, Pufles, hoping that RL would spare some weight off your shoulders, and off those of everybody else, too!