[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

I love the intellectual discussions, especially in the books forum.
I love how I can discuss just about anything Tolkien.
I love the people here, and I love how there are so many people here.
I love how I can criticize the PJ movies if I want, or defend the Bakshi film if I want.
I love how we're supposed to be dead but we're really having the time of our lives.
I love the friendly atmosphere.
I love the fact that you can feel like you've actually accomplished something after being here for a while.
I love the fact that I've been here only for about 8 months yet I feel like I've been here for years.
I love all the new members that keep popping up and you know that each batch that comes in will have at least one great member that is going to challenge you.
I love watching newcomers grow and early on, knowing that they're going to be great.
I love the challenges, the debates, and the arguing.
I love the mods and administration, who don't abuse their power.
I love the respect we all give out and receive.
I love how people share and defend thier beliefs.
I love how this site started from the books, not the movies.
I love how we are all so diverse.
I love how we are all brought here together by a common thread- Tolkien and his Middle-earth.
I love how I can have an intelligent conversation with all of you.
I love how there is always someone here who has understood me.
I love that I can spill my feelings all over this forum and never get laughed at.

Most importantly though, I love how this is my home away from home. You people are like a whole other family to me. I have no friends or relatives from my daily life here. It is like a whole other life. Middle-earth is also like a whole other life, so think of how great this site is to me if I can compare it on a level of Tolkien and his works. But it is greater because you know this is real. I care about my reputation on this forum. It's not like other forums or any type of online community where I don't care one bit. This site means something to me. I can be myself here. I don't have any friends or relatives, not even acquaintances, but I like that. I don't have to hide my light in a bush, I can let it out for all to see if they will. I can just be who I am and that means so much to me I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't. It's actually quite funny since I don't wear a mask to hide myself in real life but I sometimes can't be myself, yet I wear a mask to hide myself here but I am myself. I love this site and the people who make this a community. I love all the things that go with it- the humor, the sadness, the joy, the anger, the love....Thank you so much.

~Sincerely,

MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie

[ June 14, 2003: Message edited by: MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie ]