Dear Group, Today I realized the magnitude of how wonderful a bunch of people we have here on our list. Last night I turned to the list in dire hopes of receiving at least a couple of Happy Birthday messages today, my very own birthday. I really needed to reach out and hope that someone would brighten up my day today. I knew that what with my mental and physical struggle to recuperate from surgery and knowing that I was faced with an especially unpleasant physical day ahead of me, I really needed a few smiley faces sent my way on my birthday. But WOW, youse guys outdid yourselves! And I'm still overwhelmed by your many, many birthday greetings and by the warm words you included. The greetings continued to flood in during the entire day, they made me feel great, they made me smile and I got through the especially unpleasant physical aspect of the day MUCH better than I could have without such an outpouring. This evening my niece Deb took me out for a birthday dinner, it perked up my lagging appetite and our conversation stimulated my sagging mind. Her kids insisted I return to Deb's house for cake and ice cream afterwards and the cake was decorated with "Happy Birthday, Phat Auntie Vee"! (Note: my again sagging mind has forgotten whether I let you other oldsters in on the meaning of "phat" as used by the kids. It means a sort of "waaayyyy cooler than just cool!" Yeh, ME! Can you believe that? :-)). And of course my grandniece Amanda had to tell me more than I what I really wanted to know about what goes on in high school nowadays (she does that, you know, just to get a rise out of me--and I didn't disappoint her when I gave her disapproving responses. Lands-a-Goshen, what goes on nowadays.with these children! Why, in my day . . . . . !:-)) What has also given me a warm feeling is how our list has become so friendly with each other and so willing to share with each other. Whether it be genealogy, history, memories or just a few giggles. I've been a member of the list for several years and let me tell you, back in the early years I was reminded only on rare occasions that I had even subscribed to it when someone actually posted a message or query to it. See? We've come a long way! But getting back to the giggles that I received today, Sandra Northrup, although you're not a very good singer, I really laughed over your actually "singing" Happy Birthday to me by way of an email message. Thanks so much! But I've gotta tell you all, that Jamie Hunter outdid Sandra. This is the greeting she sent me: hum hum hum hum hum huuuuummmmm hum hum hum hum hum huuuuuummmmmm hum hum huuuumm huuuumm hum VEEEEEEE hum hum hum hum hum huuuuummmmmmm! I don't sing very well at all so I had to hum! jamie - a Tonawanda transplant in California I'm still giggling over all of the above and I'm still overwhelmed how much better all of you have made me feel today, my very own birthday, with all of your wonderful cards and warm words. Gee, I can't remember even as a little kid receiving so many wonderful gifts from so many people. It's been a most memorable happy birthday due to all of you. And in case I didn't mention it before, youse guys are the GREATEST! And for those of you have just recently subscribed to our list, just sit back, relax, send us your queries, your questions about the history of Niagara County, your memories of when you or your parents used to live here and just know that the rest of us will respond with whatever each of has that will help you in your family research and knowledge of our history here. We've become quite a close family here, you know, but we're always looking forward to adding more family members to it. Isn't that what genealogy is all about in the first place? luvya, vee