Topic: My first 1,000 posts – WOW!! How did THAT happen??!!
TA DA!!!!! (Now, now, don't worry - this will be a LITTLE bit closer to a Postito than a Postzilla, I think. Be patient with me - I do have some gratitude to express.....)
February 14, 2008 ? THE DAY I JOINED THE JOE BONAMASSA FORUM
Had anyone told me where this one simple step (taken oh SO timidly), a mere 4 1/2 months ago would lead me, I'm sure I would have laughed in their face. Who KNEW??
The word of the day, I think, is CONNECTED. Since landing here, I am more connected to Joe and to his music. I am connected to many of you. I am more connected to the Blues in general, and to a wide range of other artists. I am connected to my computer (LOL), and to new technology. I am more connected to my creative self, AND, to the POSSIBILITIES which lie ahead. Who KNEW??
What are the lessons I have learned in the last four months? For one thing, I've learned that I should keep an open mind about things with which I have NO experience……
Before coming here, I had NEVER participated on any Forum, or chat room, or any other Internet related product in my life. I have a full life - with many friends and family members that I am very close to. I LOVE TO communicate with those people and cultivate my relationships - it's a large part of who I am. If you had told me a few months ago that I would have a multitude of new friends, from simply posting and reading messages on a Forum……well, at a minimum, I would have doubted the authenticity of such relationships, or, certainly their capacity for DEPTH. With such anonymous and distant beginnings, how in the WORLD could someone REALLY connect with another person thru such a mechanical, cold device?? Impossible. Acquaintances, perhaps, but FRIENDS?? No way. Boy, was I wrong. WHO KNEW??
There are many of you who I don't know, and others that I've made little to no connection with. There are people who only post on the Gear thread, which I rarely visit (it's all Greek to me – but I am improving – even THERE!!) There are a number of people that I share information with and appreciate deeply for their contributions to my musical education. There are people whose humor tickles me. There are people whose talents astound me. There are people who ALWAYS manage to put a smile on my face. There are people who confuse me. There are people who can irritate me. There are people who lurk - who I'm very curious about. There are people who rant, and people who rave, and people who debate. There are people who are self-focused. There are people who are focused on Joe or, on their fellow Forum members. There are people who get me excited. And, there are people who move me to tears.
Lesson number two. You never know what you don't know until someone clues you in……
Oh my Gosh! The EDUCATION! The artists I've been introduced to. The details of performances and venues and types of guitars, etc. AND.....YouTube ..... AND ...... just how to NAVIGATE on a Forum. I'm tellin' you, when I got here, I didn't know my threads from my needles. What??!!! What's a thread? Is that the same thing as a post? What's a category? Is there a tutor around here?? No - there isn't. Which leads me to tell you another thing about this place and my place in it. I really WAS timid when I arrived. Ask Jim and Phil. I sent them a bashful email asking them a litany of questions about what to post, where to post it, etc. Honestly, I was scared to DEATH that I would do something WRONG and be asked to LEAVE!!! Ugh. WHO KNEW??
If anyone wants to peek, here's the link to my FIRST post - uno poquito postito.
http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtop … 61&p=1
As far as the NUMBER of posts I’ve left behind - well, it really is just a number, isn’t it?? I’ve just been INSPIRED to write and to respond and haven’t really cared about the numbers involved. More interesting to me than the number of posts I’ve written, is the number of posts which I have READ to date. Unfathomable really - but I'm guessing about 20,000. That's a lot of information to absorb.
This place has made me a MUCH more involved fan – I’m better educated, which makes me better equipped to spread the word of Joe effectively. I was a HUGE FAN before coming here, but I KNOW that the ENTHUSIASM HERE is INFECTIOUS. I’ve gone right over the edge and PLUNGED into traveling to more and more shows. I’ve been exposed to other artists and am excited about them too. I’m keenly aware of tour dates, release dates, birthdates, and even WHO’S dating!!
What do I think of the Forum? I think it is a big ol' human experience. I think it's like one big family - including the favorite aunt, the crazy uncle, the grandpa who is the keeper of the family history, the grandma that keeps us TOGETHER as a cohesive unit, the rascally teenager who we all roll our eyes at and pray will grow up one day, AND, lest we forget, the perfect, gifted children who make us swell with pride and remind us that they are the future..... and then there are the people that I just plain want to ADOPT. 
Several times, I have witnessed tremendous support and an outpouring of affection when one of our own is down and in need. I have seen squabbling and I have seen forgiveness. THAT is FAMILY.
There are people here that I've spoken with, people I've emailed with, people I've 'chatted' with, people I've MET briefly, people I've spent TIME with, people I’ve gone to shows with, people I will probably end up vacationing with, and others who, at least for the moment (wink), still remain friends-on-the-Forum-only ..... Now, I can see the possibilities of EVERYTHING that I've been given here multiplying exponentially - until I won't even be able to SEE over the top of the MOUND of TREASURES set before me.
Much to my amazement and delight - I have gathered a very nice collection of friends here. TRUE friends. There are a handful of people on this Forum who I KNOW would do ANYTHING for me, and I for them. A few of us have come to TRULY LOVE one another. There are a few people that I know will be a part of my life FOR the rest of my life. We share confidences, bare our souls to each other, figure things out together, and laugh until we cry, or, cry until we laugh……
I am so impressed with all of you – as contributors here, as ardent fans, and as a group of bright, fine, caring people, in general.
I am grateful to our Moderators, Jim Moody and Phil Cornell, who have a THANKLESS and never ending job - making sure that we are behaving ourselves and keeping things moving along toward a bigger, better future for Joe. And, as for Joe - well, you all know how I feel about Joe, musically and personally. I won't gush again right here and now. But, I will say this. This is JOE'S PLACE. HIS FORUM. He has such a big heart, and open mind, that he allows all kinds of stuff to go on here that others with an ego which was not so in check, might pull the plug on. He READS our posts AND PARTICIPATES too!!! That’s unbelievable. I also know that the magical things that go on here - and the extraordinary people that I've had the honor and privilege to bring into my life, were all originally attracted by JOE. So, it all goes back to him - and to B.B. who brought Joe to me in more ways than one. Thanks Joe.
There have been MANY coincidences in my life – particularly in the last several years. They happen with such frequency and regularity HERE, that I just laugh and have determined that there simply are no coincidences. It’s all meant to be.
We are drawn to our futures and mine includes SEVERAL of you - and you know who you are. I've expressed off forum to you how STRONG my feelings are and how much you've come to mean to me. The INTENSITY and DEPTH of feeling has astounded me and I am HUMBLED and GRATEFUL for the reciprocal feelings. : )
I'm looking forward to firing this post off, getting over the hump, and continuing the adventure, with my Forum Friends, one and all. Thanks for being here to welcome, encourage, inspire, enlighten, delight and LOVE me. I am DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE.
MUCH LOVE TO ALL,
Libby
(oops - just fixed a typo)....
Bill S.
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