on a more serious note...THANKS!!!

[StPeteMark]

THANKS to all that make this list possible and most helpful!!! To the owners/organizers, resident staff, moderators, and contributors...the time you take to educate, support, and share your experiences is greatly appreciated!!! :flowers

:dancers
:band

Enjoy the day!!!
StPeteMark

[Chelle]

That was a nice note StPeteMark :)

I'll add my thanks as well. Very grateful for this group of friends :grouphug

[CaptainStark]

Chelle,

Without you, all of us would never have connected. Your work made this group effort possible.

Many, many thanks for your diligent efforts.

And thanks to Mark for the vision to try a better alternative.

Ray:ray

[Passenger Mark]

As you know I am a BIG NASCAR fan.

Nascar has a commercial where a driver wins a race, comes into the pit, and the driver and crew are spraying each other with champagne, celebrating etc. But there is no-one in the stands. It is quite obvious. After a few second of the crew's celebrating, they suddenly stop, look around, look sad, shrug their shoulders and just walk away.

At the end of the commercial these words appear...

"NASCAR... without fans we are nothing!"

This website is the same. We could come up with all sorts of cool graphics, make things all nice a pretty, but...

Without you... we are nothing!

I am in awe at how far we have come in just over two months. And YOU are who did it.

Never EVER think that your contribution no matter what it is, is insignificant. Without sounding like dribble, I am appreciate each of you!

So thanks to EVERYONE for making us something!

[Chelle]

Aaaw, thanks Ray :) There's that old adage "if you build it, they will come". I helped put all the pieces together, but without everyone else here it would be a lonely (albeit pretty :D ) place. We're such a unique group, our collective knowledge is diverse. We're blessed to have this rare combination of exceptional people assembled all in one place.

It was just meant to be :)

[Jeff California]

Nascar.. no more this year :lonely That commercial is great.

Thanks everyone for being here.

Happy Thanksgiving.

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Awwwwwwww I agree. This group IS something to be thankful for.

Just an hour ago I was talking with my oldest nephew (he is 36) who is a helicopter pilot for the Coast Guard (Search & Rescue) in Mobile, AL. I was telling him about the group and told him that he should come on by and talk about helicopters. He raised one eyebrow like I was nuts and then I told him "you just have to see it to understand it" (meaning the group on this board). I am sooooo thankful for all of you (and cute pilots). :ray

Kelley

[Huey]

He'd be welcome.

(PS: If you have helicopter questions, I happen to work in the MH-47 Special Ops Chinook office.)

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Thanks, Huey.

You would like my nephew. He eats, sleeps and breathes helicopters. He flew Blackhawks for 8 years in the military and has been with the Coast Guard for 6 years I think. He told me what he flies now but the only word I remember is "dolphin" at the end of the description.

He just doesnt understand how anyone can be scared to fly. I have tried to explain it to him but since this is something he does every day it is so routine to him that the fear thing just baffles him.

Funny story about him - he just went back to work after several weeks off for medical leave. He races BMX motorcycles on the side and he fell off his bike 20 feet up in the air and shattered his right ankle, broke his left leg and tore his left ACL. Guess he really IS safer in the helicopter than left to his own devices on the ground!

Kelley

[Huey]

Heh heh...It's "Dauphin" (which is the French word for the "crown prince".)

Neat little helicopter.

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Good to know. All I could think of was THIS: :hamster

Kelley

[Debbielevis2]

I wanna be serious, too. And I wanna put my two cents' in, too.

Having been one of the "last" to leap in here, I just need all of you to know that I'm glad I did.

Gotta say that it's definitely the sense of community that helps us all. The knowing that you're not alone. I'm still regarded as a "freak" among some of my friends (some friends, huh??!)

Just look at the way everyone pulls together when one of us has an upcoming flight, or gawking over each others' trip reports.

Today, I'm meeting Monica and Spiffy for brunch. Actually, just a couple of hours from now. We'll hug and ooh and ahh, get each other up for our individual upcoming flights and walk away with a sense that we're got new family.

Mark - thanks for having the foresight to do this, and Chelle for having the patience and knowledge to enable us to type, press "send" and we're all good to go! And, of course, :ray Ray for your incredible willingness to give us so much of your time in knowledge and humor.

Deb

[Disney fan]

I echo all that has been said!!

What a great community of people here. I am glad that I have a new extended family!!!!

Lynda