I couldn't sleep last night. Instead of counting sheep, I counted the people who were, and are, part of my internet galaxy of friends. I remembered back to where it all began, at the StarShip Titanic community, and where it ends, here at the Galaxy Café.

Most of us used nicknames because we were new to the internet communities and we felt safer that way. We started out just reading each others words, and before long we were 'hearing' them in our minds. We were friends with funny names and unseen faces, but we were real friends.

We were from all over the globe so our "way with words" varied. I never would have thought that there was such a difference in speaking English in USA and speaking it in UK, but indeed there is..lol.. One time I was asked to be someone's 'mate' and I thought I was getting a marriage proposal not a new 'friend'.

A few more words that we laughed through: elevator/lift, eraser/rubber, flashlight/torch, truck/lorry, car hood/bonnet, car trunk/boot, sausage/banger, and sweater/jumper. I won't even go into the difference in spelling certain words.
Plus, I was known as the Typo Queen.

Anyway, back to my sleepless night, many names tumbled through my mind. Just when I thought I couldn't remember any more names, more names tumbled into my memory. I thought about making a list but it sounded like too much blonde memory stress.

Everyone that came into my cyber world are special to me. Most in a good way, and a few in not a good a way. I have learned life lessons from both, and I thank you all for that. Those that remember me know which list they are on.


My Cyberfriends



We meet every day, we share stories, poems, jokes and heartaches.
Arms outstretched, holding, comforting, assuring me you are here-someone I can depend on,
a shoulder to lean on when my world comes crashing down on me.
We've laughed together, cried together-you have sent flowers to my home when someone dear to me has died.
You accepted me without question, I could feel your welcoming smile coming through my monitor-fingers typing messages of friendship offered. Miles separate us, we may never meet, but we have bonded.
Sometimes I make you angry, and your anger is evident-symbols of frustration, stinging words sent through cyberspace.
I am quick to sense your anger and I rush to assure you that things will be okay between us.
Tomorrow, we will meet again, imaginary coffee(and M&M's) shared, friendly words exchanged, to start our day with smiles.
Always elusive, but ever my friend. You have become an integral part of my life, and I thank you for your friendship.

(Poem by Anne Shanholtz)

Never say Goodbye, say Aloha,
Blondie

Do angels gossip or does telepathy exist? I tend to believe in the first because angels are said to have wonderful traits like sweet singing, protection and their angel faces.
Why exactly do I drop in here right now? Normally being too busy to visit all 'old' friends still some magic happens. Probably from my IP address you can see that I visit once a year or so in the month with a 21st day in it.

I'd say from StarShip Titanic up to now and beyond and I'd rather not see "and where it ends, here at the Galaxy Café". Why does it end there? There is a bit of a sad sound in that and I hope it's just my wrong feeling.


Your thread, Blondie, revives perfectly a special chapter in our lives, a kind of Genesis, a birth into cyber. Remember those first words you typed with almost trembling fingers. How do I post a question and will those kings and queens of the Titanic really answer? Next the first answer from some funny named person, wow, they really talked to you, You seemed to matter to them!

I still have that first question and first friend dragged from one computer to the next:


07/07/98 12:31:56 Puree into glass? - My Full Name (didn't know I had to use a fake name at that time)
07/07/98 12:34:12 Re: Puree into glass? - CatainBot
07/07/98 12:36:14 Re: Puree into glass? - bruce
07/07/98 17:16:11 Re: Puree into glass? - Bishop

Subject: Puree into glass?
Posted By: My Full Name lastname@mycompany.com
Can't get the puree in the glass. I tried everything to get the puree from the chicken into the glass even with the napkin as an intermediate.
In the past I degreased the chicken with the napkin. Now can I regrease it in order to coat it with the puree and then get the puree in the glass? Or do I have to replay all that stuff again up to the current state.


Bruce gave the most humourous hints and immediately liked that guy forever and I gradually learned that there were so many to like. A pitty Bruce didn't stay crew for long after. More helpers jumped in and among them of course were Whisper, Infomage, Hatbot, blondeone, and Blondie a bit later because she was back from vacation a month later:

10/08/98 01:55:44 Back From Vacation - Blondie
10/08/98 01:59:03 Re: Back From Vacation - Chicken w/ cheap yellow mustard
10/08/98 02:00:45 Re: Back From Vacation - Blondie
10/08/98 02:02:49 Re: Back From Vacation - Lordhawk
10/08/98 02:03:56 Re: Back From Vacation - Whisper
10/08/98 02:05:07 Re: Back From Vacation - Blondie
10/08/98 02:09:57 Re: Back From Vacation - Chicken w/ cheap yellow mustard
10/08/98 02:18:27 Re: Back From Vacation---RE: Chicken! - Blondie
10/08/98 02:37:46 Re: Back From Vacation---RE: Chicken! - Chicken w/ cheap yellow mustard


And there was a PartyAnimal, a 16 years young son discovering the fun of chatting in a forum too. Sometimes his dad's toes curled seeing his contributions to the forum, but yeah somewhere you have to learn how to behave. You should see him now on his 750cc Yamaha Motor, unbelievable and scarring at the same time.


Many of the good old names scroll through memory while writing this. The words Blondie, you laughed through, we soon learned to be legitimate for the UK half we were taught at school. Soon after we forgot about which was which and swapped those at will.

You are right, so many got special and stayed special even if roads led them to other places. Someone who helps always stays special.

I like your mysterious statement about good and not so good cyber 'mates': "Those that remember me know which list they are on". Luckily there is a wink at its end. I really regret if there are persons on your second list.
If I'm on that one then I can asure you that it was never my intention. Don't fear, I have no list.

So much nostalgy when I read through all our first encounters; yes we had many many friends with great hearts and humour.

-= share and enjoy =-

The Network54 fees for the Cafe are due December 1st. I'm not going to pay them. The Cafe will still be here, just read only - NO new posts. Cafe history will not change. Anyone that wants to read that history can do so but, there will be a lot of ads.

The original Douglas Adams Starship Titanic forum community history is gone. The Cafe is fading into history. However, it will be available to read until Network54 folds. I don't expect them to do that for a long time.

We all have our memories. What we choose to remember is up to each of us. I choose to only remember the times that friends, love, laughter, and joy filled my heart.

Never say Goodbye, say Aloha,
Blondie

... and it was the name I first used at the SST forum. It has morphed through a few stages since then and I have almost universally become known as pinkozcat - minnie the pink.

The SST days were my best days in cyberland. We had so much fun and laughter and I miss it and the friends I made there.

Fluis - I was thinking about you only last night - I have been meaning to reply to your email since you sent it in January but couldn't quite find the words.

For those who don't know, I have saved some of the best threads from the SST and they can be found at:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ploke/

and follow the link to the Pinkbutnotb Cartland pages.

I don't visit here very often and most of the people who were at the SST forum are no longer here. It is the end of an era ... The internet is quite different now - more commercial and not as friendly. It is sad to see the change, and sad to see the end of this forum, which is the last link.

A link to you pages is in HelpBot's Link Menu. I think that everyone will enjoy taking a look at your site. You have a lot of interesting things there. Your trip pages with photos are great!

... I'll finish the section on Morocco. I really didn't enjoy that trip and I still have the page on the Atlas Mountains and probably one other to do.

But thank you for yoru comments

minnie the pink

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ploke
http://bookcrossing.com/friend/pinkozcat

I took on the name Insane when confronted by SST site to come up with a log in name. New to the internetnew to the game worldmy only rational for posting a question at 3 in the morning on a website that came with a game is.I gotta be Insane.funny thing though I wasnt alone.

I posted game questions at first, I think my pink friend was the first to help me, I read most treads from the regulars in the first class forum.dare I enter the room with the Captains. I only just figured out how to put my room together. Eventually I did and ended up finding my way to great party.

It was always a great time found some great friends.. I was Mr. Mom then, working and going to school part time in the evenings. The children were a little to young for SST but even now they flashback to some of the scenes from Monkey Island and Grim Fandango. When they do I always smile thinking about some of the fun evenings on the SST forum. Shame the responsibility of parenthood and work started to demand much more of my time. I wish nothing but the best to both my blonde and pink friends and the others whose paths I may have crossed. I hope we can stay in contact through email every once in awhile..insane

I forgot all abiut those games..lol..we had lots of fun with them, didn't we?
As minnie said, the net has changed so much since those early days. I don't think we could repeat the same kind of 'community' now. But, we will always keep the memories of those days. We can bring them to mind on a rainy day feel the sunshine.


I want to mention the non SST friends that have shared the laughter with me here at the Cafe also. Many have come and gone but three still remain. I will miss them as much as my SST friends. My grateful thanks to BlueNightingale, The Universe/Pete, and Timeloyd.

Cheers to us all, SST friends and Cafe friends!