Message To My Friends Part II Aug 09 '01    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet The Bottom Line There is no finer group of people anywhere! Considering that I normally write only one review every four to six weeks, the fact that I'm hammering out two in the space of only twelve hours can be credited to the power of your love, compassion, and encouragement. When a wrote last night's review, I cannot tell you how nervous I was. Would everyone think it was a joke? Would readers be p1ssed off to be reading a typical HTP review and feel tricked by being hit with bad news at the end? I should have had more faith in the type of community we are blessed to be a part of as Epinion's members and it has been reinforced after having spent the past two hours reading the nearly hundred comments and private emails you have bestowed upon me in just a dozen hours. I must admit to sobbing like a baby as I have pored through message after message filled with specific memories people have of me ('you were the first person to encourage me', 'I will never forget when you sent me the condolence card', 'you have brightened my life immeasurably over the past year', etc. etc.) I hadn't fully realized that such simple acts had such a memorable effect on people and I am deeply touched and humbled to realize that we don't forget those small acts of kindness. Don't miss an opportunity to share a simple bit of goodwill- the recipient will cherish it long after you have forgotten about it! Tears have been rolling down my cheeks as I soaked in the power of your words in offering to do anything you can to help, to pray for my recovery, to encourage me to be the strong man that you know that I am, etc. Many of you gave me your home addresses and phone numbers in case my treatment might be conducted in your city. Several of you shared cancer success stories so that I could maintain my faith in the power of medicine, prayer, and a positive attitude. I know how tough it must be to know what to say when someone drops horrible news on you and our responses often come across as empty cliches with no true comfort conveyed. Every single one of you has risen above the 'easy' response and shared a communication which is so sincere in its' message that tears fill my eyes as I read each and every one. I had spent most of last evening researching metastasized renal cell carcinoma and became more and more depressed to read medical article after medical article with bleak prognosises on the type of cancer I have. When I started thinking how much easier it would be to give up while I still had quality of life, I knew it was time to go to bed. You all have totally renewed my determination to fight this disease and face the hell I must endure for the next year because life is worth fighting for with every fiber of our being. I still have so much I want to do in life, and so many people to love and laugh with, and so many more sunrises to marvel at- thanks for reminding me of the preciousness of the fantastic gift of life. I want to respond to each of you with listed emails personally, but it will take some time. In the meantime, I hope that this review points out in the strongest way that we really are a community in every sense of the word. Stronger and closer than many 'real world' communities. Let's not waste any energy on petty jealousies, flame wars, or any of the other minor irritants we often encounter in traversing the site. Let's remember what is truly important and be grateful that 95% of us are kind and compassionate folks who want the same things in life that we all do. I wrote a review well over a year ago titled "I Love You Guys". I have never meant those words so strongly as I do today! ...Hard To Please (Mark)

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