I've been around about five years and in that time have been truly impressed with the incredible group of people that call TER home.  Open-minded, welcoming, humorous, eductated, worldly, and experienced just to list a few characteristics- and that's just the guys.

Add in the ladies and you have expand that list to add beauty, wit, wisdom, brains, passion, and some of the most giving, caring people in the world.  

My plea to you all is this:  It's time you come our of hiding and rejoin us.

There have been many ups and downs over the years, but I've always been impressed with the resiliency of this community and it's ability to incorporate all the divergent experiences and viewpoints that make up this site.  We are the better for the wide range of viewpopints expressed here on a daily basis.  

It's only when things get out of balance that we get in trouble, and that only happens when good people are afraid to post their opinions.  When that occurs, we get out of equillibrium and let small groups dominate, but mostly they just chase away others.  A hard edge appears and civil discourse usually vanishes shortly thereafter.  It's happend several times in the years I've been participating on these boards, and will, no doubt, happen again.

My point is this, I know you're still out there and I know what you're capable of contributing to the knowledge, entertainment and well-being of this community.  We need your insight, wisdom, experience and humor.  

And to those of you who have been fighting the good fight, always positive and always contributing in a constructive manner (Sedona comes to mind, for example), thanks for keeping us on track and serving as an example of how we can help each other while keeping this board interesting and vital.  

Just remember, there are real people behind every alias on this board and they deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect you would show them if you met them in person.

I hope to see you all soon.