When I finally signed up for an account here in March of 2008, I did so with a little trepidation: even this loudmouth was intimidated by what I found in comments, and gingerly waded into the community--only publishing my first diary on 12/24/08.
Then, I found Cheers and Jeers. Later, I found myself writing substitute diaries for C&J. Later even, I found that people actually "followed" me--a total "wow" moment.
I was invited to be a Beta tester for DKIV and that was fun, too. Hurling donuts without being punished for it was fun over there. Yes, I have had fun on the DK.
Over the fold, let's talk about serious stuff....
I received a lifetime subscription to Daily Kos the other day. Two people were willing to do that for me. I have to say, I feel honored and humbled by that. It reminds me of our community, and how very closely knit it is, even when a person has not even met another Kossack personally.
When I lived in the Boston area, there was a Kossack who had us over for dinner and movies every Friday night in the winter. Here in Portland, Maine, my house is open to any Kossack who happens to be passing through, and I'll cook dinner, too. We are a rare breed. We take care of one another. It's just how we are.
I have been out of work for about 18 months, and without unemployment benefits. I have a job interview (part two of a process) on Monday. Things are looking up. However, because of my internet connectivity issues, that gift subscription I was given makes a huge difference. Why? The ads can crash my laptop (also, I will add, a gift from Kossacks, and I am completely grateful for the help). This gift subscription helps a lot. If you don't live in a rural place (which I do much of the year) you can't get how much this helps. It really does. It's a lifesaver if you like to read and publish on the Daily Kos.
If YOU have received a gift subscription, I highly recommend that you pay it forward. For me, I'm doing extra volunteer work at the food pantry and baking holiday cookies for Kossacks. If you can give, give. I don't have much money, but I can do it in other ways, giving it back, paying it forward.
I think we are hard-pressed to find another internet community like Daily Kos. I mean here we have "downtown" (the front page), schools--all sorts of education and elucidating material--, churches, mosques and shuls; we have forums for cooking, we have places to debate policy, we have pooties; we have snark, we have a vibrant LGBTQ community; we have everything a village could want. Right here, on Daily Kos.
I thank my secret KosSantas™ for the subscription, but most of all I thank Markos for making this community possible. Markos, you done good.
I am proud and humbled to be a member of this community.