Thankyou for the welcoming smile, Morelli,
and thankyou Soop for the welcome and the flowers
.
I am trying not to send long postings, because I know that lots of people don't like to read long, introspective witterings, but I am sending this long posting because I believe it sums up my many postings, cheerful and sad, that I have sent in my first 10 days with Gransnet.
I will send shorter postings often. Promise.
To find a place that is for "gentle folk" feels lovely, Soop, thank you for that
. Because - - -
- - - when I first had a computer, about 15 years ago, as well as exploring lots of crazy, wild stuff, which was fun, I tried some everyday chat rooms (chatting about cooking, gardening etc) and support groups (chatting about family issues etc) and constantly received what is now referred to as "trolling" - cutting, bitter, sarcastic responses - it was devastatingly intimidating.
But I persevered with life and searching for the support that I needed, while becoming almost a recluse for some years, although still going to work every day. I have slowly become stronger, and life has become easier, to the point where I sometimes think "I feel happy right now" - a great and unexpected new late-in-life experience
.
So I really look forward to meeting Gnetters in the future but do not feel strong enough to do so yet. I am fine at social occasions for the first 10-20 minutes, then I feel unable to assert myself socially and so feel swamped by others, and so I withdraw - perhaps picking up another
or just making my excuses to drift off or depart.
The good news is I feel I am getting to know you all, reading a lot of postings (I've read all the back pages to Soops kitchen so I am learning something about your habits in the kitchen! - as well as the day-to-day things you are dealing with, as am I - well-being, health problems, travelling difficulties, family issues etc).
Already, in my first 10 days with Gransnet, I have learned a lot of new stuff about myself while posting - its like having a load of penfriends that I am really communicating with (I had penfriends while at school but it never really worked for me
. So I will keep writing to my new penfriends, all of you, with a view to meeting up sometime in the future (maybe next year? send in the clowns? - not)
(its a song).
Thankyou again for making me feel welcome.
. And I think the bar is open now, so I'm about to enjoy a
.