**The Barrow-Downs Birthday Mailbag - May 2006** - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 05-13-2006, 10:32 PM

My Dearest Wights,

It has been with the greatest of pleasure that I have sorted through my mail over the last couple of weeks and found among the various bills, subpoenas, credit card applications, and Netflix DVDs a variety of wondrous birthday cards, every one an artistic treasure and a touching memento that I will treasure forever. Even now they lie in the barrow, stashed among my other valuables, where they will remain until the next band of filthy hobbits drops by and wrecks the place.

To show my gratitude for the well wishes, I thought I might comment on each visual card that I received.

Hookbill, most favored Goomba, your collage is both beautiful and disturbing. The good professor looking stoically on at “Happy Barrow, Birthday Downs”, shadowy wingy things, and rolling mountains is as inspiring as it is weird. Great card!

Taralphiel, I nearly cried when I saw your wonderful card. Someday you can join me here in the barrow and light a little candle of your own.

Celuien, I’ve seen that sign before and recommend everyone follow it. Though it looks like it points off into the hills, it really leads to everlasting fun and frolicking. Yes, lots of it! Thanks for showing everyone the way.

WestWood, I love green cake. Who doesn’t?

TheSaucepanMan, a green ribbon! For me? Awesome! I take Worst Place!

Valesse, thank you for the card, but Skwerlz is spelled with a Z. What were you and Mr. Seacrest thinking!?

Encaitare, it’s very creepy that you know exactly what I’m wearing right now (and always when I’m in the barrow). I’m getting a restraining order.

Lalaith, I hope that’s miruvor!

poisenniel, every time I see that picture I fantasize that the precariously leaning megalith suddenly topples and squishes those troublesome hobbits. Is that wrong of me?

Guinevere, I need a Tengwar tutor.

dancing spawn of ungoliant, Aaaaachoooooo! Thanks a lot. It’s allergy season.

wilwarin538, butterflies are cool…

Thinlómien, …. but penguins are cooler. Get it!? Cooler! As in Antarctica cooler. Ha! Oh, man, I’ve had too much birthday cake.

Sleepy Ranger, that is appalling. It’s like a karaoke performance in a bar. At this level of the competition you have got to be special, and it wasn’t. I think you just got a plane ticket home. (just kidding, cool card!)

Mithalwen, what is that, some kind of fantasy island. There’s no such place!

If I missed anyone, I’ll get you next year, so don’t miss it.

Thank you everyone for being such great forum members. I greatly appreciate your cards and well wishes!

Sincerely,

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-14-2006, 11:22 AM

With those thoughts, the Barrow-Wight turned the empty mailbag upside down and shook out the dust that had settled on it during the days he had needed to read all of his birthday greetings. And lo! one last envelope fell out. He opened it curiously and this is what he saw:

Quote:

It's the Barrow-Downs forum's birthday!

Nothing speculative about that - it's the truth! I may not have been there when it all started, but I have seen the old barrows and read the first posts. I wonder if the forum's ghost is still visible on E-Z-Board...

I did, and look what I found!
The very first Barrow-Downs forum!
Ah, those were the days - every topic was new and fresh, no need for warnings such as this:

The members were literate and intelligent and wouldn't have dreamed of mangling the English language like some have since...

There was so much Tolkien to discuss that the skwerlz were pacifists -

And even the chat room was busy almost constantly!

Alas, it seems that chat room and forum have merged these days:

Yes, some things have changed, but one thing has stayed the same: This is the best Tolkien barrow on the internet - friendly, interesting, fun, intelligent, and as varied as its members. Many thanks to you, Barrow-Wight, and to all of the administrators, moderators and members who make it what it is. May it live on for as long as people love to read Tolkien's works and exchange opinions about them! And may our memories of the good times we've had here never fade...

The Ghostly Princess

Guinevere · 05-15-2006, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Guinevere, I need a Tengwar tutor.

For the benefit of the BW, whose precious time I don't want to waste (and for the curiosity of all others who don't think it's fun to decipher strange letters)

here is the translation to the Tengwar greeting in my original post (#30)

Quote:

Dear Barrow Wight,
this is just to wish you many happy returns of the day.
Thank you so much for keeping this site,
may the Downs prosper for many years to come!
Guinevere

zifnab · 05-15-2006, 09:27 PM

From our birthday, until we die,
Is but the winking of an eye. - William Butler Yeats

What can I say? 'Better late, then never'. So let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words. And a heartfelt and well deserved congratulations to Esty, for using such a devise act which allowed me to fall through her aperture. Great opening post, Esty.

symestreem · 06-01-2006, 09:49 PM

A breathless young woman dashed up the path to the mailbox, a violin bouncing against her back with each jarring step. Had she possessed the power of speech, she might have groaned at her own inexcusable tardiness. Just because I've been in far, foreign lands is no excuse to be late! she thought furiously. Mother always wondered how I could keep time well enough to play when I couldn't keep it to be anywhere else. She skidded to a halt outside the ominous dark mound, her worn boots throwing up clouds of dust, and stared in dismay at the empty mailbox. I'm really late!

Not to be daunted, she swung her oft-patched bag off of her shoulder and withdrew a sheaf of parchment that was crisp and clean in comparison to the rest of her belongings. Kneeling nervously by the door to the barrow, she slid it under the threshold, then leapt back. The parchment was the music to a birthday song that she'd composed especially for the occasion.

She quickly retreated several paces and swung her fiddle off of her back, tucking it under her chin and gripping the bow with an ease that spoke of long practice. First she played the traditional birthday song, embellishing it with chords and trills. Then she shifted the fiddle a little and began to play the song she had slipped under the door. The mute musician could not sing the words as was proper, but she thought them in her head as a counterpoint to the singing of the fiddle.

Many thanks for times well spent here,
Felicitations on six long years.
Hopeful wishes for more time near
Sharp minds, good hearts, spirits of cheer.

Measures of lore and riddles unclear,
Persist on the 'Net, don't disappear;
Let the glowing green words persevere
To welcome us all, to all appear.

After repeating the chorus and letting the last note die away, she hesitated only to secure her cherished instrument before turning and fleeing down the path which she had come. Surely the dreaded Wight would be furious with her for disturbing his valued repose.

05-13-2006, 10:32 PM	#1
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	I've got mail! My Dearest Wights, It has been with the greatest of pleasure that I have sorted through my mail over the last couple of weeks and found among the various bills, subpoenas, credit card applications, and Netflix DVDs a variety of wondrous birthday cards, every one an artistic treasure and a touching memento that I will treasure forever. Even now they lie in the barrow, stashed among my other valuables, where they will remain until the next band of filthy hobbits drops by and wrecks the place. To show my gratitude for the well wishes, I thought I might comment on each visual card that I received. Hookbill, most favored Goomba, your collage is both beautiful and disturbing. The good professor looking stoically on at “Happy Barrow, Birthday Downs”, shadowy wingy things, and rolling mountains is as inspiring as it is weird. Great card! Taralphiel, I nearly cried when I saw your wonderful card. Someday you can join me here in the barrow and light a little candle of your own. Celuien, I’ve seen that sign before and recommend everyone follow it. Though it looks like it points off into the hills, it really leads to everlasting fun and frolicking. Yes, lots of it! Thanks for showing everyone the way. WestWood, I love green cake. Who doesn’t? TheSaucepanMan, a green ribbon! For me? Awesome! I take Worst Place! Valesse, thank you for the card, but Skwerlz is spelled with a Z. What were you and Mr. Seacrest thinking!? Encaitare, it’s very creepy that you know exactly what I’m wearing right now (and always when I’m in the barrow). I’m getting a restraining order. Lalaith, I hope that’s miruvor! poisenniel, every time I see that picture I fantasize that the precariously leaning megalith suddenly topples and squishes those troublesome hobbits. Is that wrong of me? Guinevere, I need a Tengwar tutor. dancing spawn of ungoliant, Aaaaachoooooo! Thanks a lot. It’s allergy season. wilwarin538, butterflies are cool… Thinlómien, …. but penguins are cooler. Get it!? Cooler! As in Antarctica cooler. Ha! Oh, man, I’ve had too much birthday cake. Sleepy Ranger, that is appalling. It’s like a karaoke performance in a bar. At this level of the competition you have got to be special, and it wasn’t. I think you just got a plane ticket home. (just kidding, cool card!) Mithalwen, what is that, some kind of fantasy island. There’s no such place! If I missed anyone, I’ll get you next year, so don’t miss it. Thank you everyone for being such great forum members. I greatly appreciate your cards and well wishes! Sincerely, __________________ The Barrow-Wight

05-15-2006, 09:27 PM	#4
zifnab Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: omni-presence Posts: 329	I'a'int a jumpin' outta no cake! From our birthday, until we die, Is but the winking of an eye. - William Butler Yeats What can I say? 'Better late, then never'. So let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words. And a heartfelt and well deserved congratulations to Esty, for using such a devise act which allowed me to fall through her aperture. Great opening post, Esty. __________________ Facebook.

06-01-2006, 09:49 PM	#5
symestreem Face in the Water Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 728	A breathless young woman dashed up the path to the mailbox, a violin bouncing against her back with each jarring step. Had she possessed the power of speech, she might have groaned at her own inexcusable tardiness. Just because I've been in far, foreign lands is no excuse to be late! she thought furiously. Mother always wondered how I could keep time well enough to play when I couldn't keep it to be anywhere else. She skidded to a halt outside the ominous dark mound, her worn boots throwing up clouds of dust, and stared in dismay at the empty mailbox. I'm really late! Not to be daunted, she swung her oft-patched bag off of her shoulder and withdrew a sheaf of parchment that was crisp and clean in comparison to the rest of her belongings. Kneeling nervously by the door to the barrow, she slid it under the threshold, then leapt back. The parchment was the music to a birthday song that she'd composed especially for the occasion. She quickly retreated several paces and swung her fiddle off of her back, tucking it under her chin and gripping the bow with an ease that spoke of long practice. First she played the traditional birthday song, embellishing it with chords and trills. Then she shifted the fiddle a little and began to play the song she had slipped under the door. The mute musician could not sing the words as was proper, but she thought them in her head as a counterpoint to the singing of the fiddle. Many thanks for times well spent here, Felicitations on six long years. Hopeful wishes for more time near Sharp minds, good hearts, spirits of cheer. Measures of lore and riddles unclear, Persist on the 'Net, don't disappear; Let the glowing green words persevere To welcome us all, to all appear. After repeating the chorus and letting the last note die away, she hesitated only to secure her cherished instrument before turning and fleeing down the path which she had come. Surely the dreaded Wight would be furious with her for disturbing his valued repose.