I appreciate this gift so much!
I found dkos in 2004 after hearing about Daily Kos while watching cspan. I have been a political junkie for years and was delighted to discover blogging and daily kos at about the same time. Blogging was fairly new at that time and I remember doing a google search 'what is a blog' back then and the rest is history.
My second husband, a severe alcoholic, was in jail for domestic violence and his second DUI that year in November also. Daily Kos saved my sanity. It was my saving grace, honest to god! Here I could focus on something outside the pain, trauma and disappointment of my sad horrible marriage. That lonely Christmas was hell.
The timing of this grateful gift is awesome as Dec. 18 was my 8th anniversary to that man who also walked out on me, and our home because his need to drink was his priority and I had a protective order that stated once he got out of jail that he could only live in our home sober. Well, he was unable to do that so he left of his own accord and I haven't seen him since and have no clue where he is or if he's dead or alive. So this time of year is difficult, bittersweet with the endless 'would if, could if and should if' ruminating.
Some people here at dkos helped me deal with all that alcohol stuff back then and with all the fun and pie about politics and life events, kept me entertained, sane and involved with a better side of life.
I don't believe in coincidences, meaning the universe has a way of guiding us to people, places and things as needed, and I most certainly was directed to daily kos:)
I could go on and on and on, but over the years much of my meta has been exposed and shared here and there in this cyber-space..we all have a story to tell and many of us have felt safe enough to do that here, but enough is enough for now.
I will most definitely Pay This Forward someway somehow.
Merry Christmas and warm hugs to everyone and especially to my secret santa kos:)