A sentiment posted in years past, and now again, as this year winds to a close....

Dan Murphy

We are family.
Joined
Apr 20, 2000
I originally posted most of this back 17 years ago, New Year's Eve of 2005. Since then, I have dragged out the words I posted here to make up a new thread, revised them a bit, adding whatever updates and a few thoughts from the current year. Except for a very few changes, same post.

(for those who have read this in past years, this below is pretty much of a repeat, with a couple new thoughts)

Over the past year, so much has again happened, for us, for others, here and worldwide. At this time, 12 months ago, we thought 2022 would hopefully see the end of COVID. Well, it’s still here, seems like it will be forever. There is a real war going on in Europe with Russia attacking Ukraine almost a year ago. To say the least, I think the clown running Russia has so far been quite surprised. Hopefully, good and right will prevail.

Here on the dis, there have been parents, children, family members and friends some of us have lost over this past year. We miss our dis friends….Jason, better known here as Pop Daddy or low-key. We miss that short but ever so meaningful ‘hey’ or that ‘long post’ from him. We miss his song threads and his sometimes school-kid fun ways. We miss Barry Hom, poster and past moderator. We miss the gifted Josh Humphrey, owner, blogger and all-around good guy from his easyWDW website and forum. For you, those left behind, our prayers of comfort follow you. For those dealing with aches, pains and serious ailments, our prayers are with you for improvement over the coming year. And we certainly continue to miss the many who are no longer here on the dis, for many and various reasons. That sadness is tempered a bit as we welcomed new dis babies along the way, new dis brides and grooms, new dis members to this little loony, often dysfunctional place on the Net. This place has many shortcomings, for sure, but still remains dear to me (sometimes I question that), and to many others, for various reasons. One of the big reasons (maybe the biggest) for me is the friendships I have made here over the past 23 plus years I've been here, having started my 'dis days' back in March of '99. However I do miss many though, some immensely. Of the many, many who are no longer here, I do still keep in contact with a number of these great people.

On the personal front, we are still holding at 5 grandkids, I'm pretty sure that’s it.. Marie still loves getting Vince and Katlyn's Delaney all the girlie stuff. She and her bothers, Keegan and Griffin, along with their two cousins, Natalie's Jeremy and Christopher, bring much joy and many smiles to both Marie and me.

Marie is coming up in a month on the 25 year mark in remission from stage III breast cancer back in 1998. Our family trip to Disney World in '99 to celebrate Marie's return to health is what actually led me to this place, researching and planning our then upcoming trip. We both are another year older than we were last year, which we both will gladly settle for at our ages. I've now been retired two years from my 45 year financial planning career, and enjoying not knowing Wednesdays from Saturdays.

As the year runs short of hours here, I would like to wish everyone here and elsewhere a very Happy, Healthy, Safe, Blessed and Good New Year. And so importantly, an end to the virus over the coming year, 2023.

Many of us became friends over the years here, having met in this crazy world we call.....online; and have become cyber friends, buddies, online friends. And, many of us have, over time, actually met up in real life and became real-life friends. And sometimes, very good real-life friends. It is a nice community, in spite of many of its shortcomings. And Lord knows it has many.

Sure, there are arguments, name-calling, disagreements, I'm-going-to-take-a-break announcements, and what-have-you, but generally, in the end, still friends. Hopefully, all can be friends in 2023, making for an even better community. Pixie dust maybe, but hey, who knows? It would be great to see many who no longer can be here to again be here to share the friendships.

I hear this song every year at this time, thought it had some good things to say, some true things. Yeah, it's by that sort of ancient, cheesy group, ABBA (I really do like some of their music and sound), but still, give a listen, read the lyrics, I found they can ring so very true......................




You and I can share the silence
Finding comfort together
The way old friends do

And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other
The way old friends do

Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
Oh I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together
The way old friends do

You and I can share the silence
Finding comfort together
The way old friends do

And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other
The way old friends do

Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
Oh I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together
The way old friends do

We can face it together
The way old friends do

--Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus




.......I like to think good things, good things that have been, good things that could be.

Anyway, enough of all that.............

Happy New Year, guys.

These thoughts still ring true.

Dan


PS: It is so nice to see those who have returned over this past 2022 year too, would love to see others in 2023. I have that now almost 17 year old Are You a dis Oldtimer (or New)? thread I posted years back linked in my signature. It is always nice, real nice, to see folks who have been missing for months or years pop back in to say hello. I smile when I see those people pop in for an hello, great memories. I wish others who can't pop in would be able to. Some I dearly miss, very, very much.

Again, a very Healthy, Happy and Good 2023 New Year wish to everyone.
 
From this side of the pond, all best wishes to you, Dan, and to everybody for the coming year.

ford family
 
Beautiful Dan.

A Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year to you and your family and to all our friends here.
 
Happy New Year, Dan, to you and your lovely family. And Happy New Year to my DIS family as well. I'm one of those who wander off for months or even years at a time, but I always find my way back. And posts like this remind me of why.
 
Thanks, Dan, for the lovely post and sentiments. It has been a challenging year here, but as my sister says, we are all on the right side of the soil and able to take things in stride. I am thankful for the folks here on the DIS, for your cyber-friendships, insights, support, and opinions- even when we disagree. I feel like this is a safe community full of people who share some common interests, develop interesting discussions, and are interested in being "friends." Looking forward to 2023, to sharing thoughts and opinions with you all. Happy New Year!! 🌠🎇
 
As always, so beautifully written Dan. I found myself with tears in my eyes reading it. I too miss DIS'ers who are no longer with us. I am grateful for Marie's remission reaching the 25 year mark. I am glad to hear the grand children are growing and thriving. I thank you , and every other member of my DIS family, for accepting me into this community of such wonderful people.
Here's to another year- To old friends and to new friends, I wish the best for all of you.

Happy New Year !!

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Happy 2023 to you Dan.

I have made some lifelong friends here and now have a new thread (since 2020) that I frequent.
 
Lovely words, Dan. Happy New Year, fellow DISers! May your year be filled with more smiles than tears, more laughter than sadness, and may we all have peace in the world and within ourselves.
 
Great post Dan. As a CM I was fortunate enough to meet Dan a couple of times. I think it was twice. After a long career at Disney and now retired, that won't happen again. Dan epitomizes the words "true gentlemen". Good to hear that life is good for you.
 
Happy new year Dan. I thank you for everything you have done over the years.
 

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