Here is a question I've wanted to ask since I joined OCF in 10/2008. On the right side of the screen are listed:

Forum Stats
7115 Members
22 Forums
11459 Topics
129880 Posts

Max Online: 103 @ 05/06/08 09:15 PM

For you "Old Timers"--
What happened on 05/06/08 at 9:15 PM that led to 103 members logging on at the same time?

I have searched the site to try and find out, with no luck in discovering an answer.

We upgraded the forum software (an expensive gift from the Paltrow family) on that day, and everyone had to find the forum at a new web URL if they wanted to continue on, re-agree to the terms of use, which were also modified then, and resign in. We sent a PM to every poster that had been anctive in the last 10 months and that's what happened on that day. The forum calculates things in hour segments and while people were doing all day for several day,s that was when most people took action.

Another commonly asked question is realted to members. Today it says 7115 members. The most recently signed on member, is number 7761.... this to some, does not add up.

Members pass away, and we deactivate their membership if the family does not continue to post under that name in 30 days afterwards. So their profile and posts still live on in the messages boards and threads containing their wisdom, strengths, fears, and pain are their legacy left for others still today. But their number has been permanently retired. That reduces the member number on the right colum. There are clearly many that fall into this group, and I occasionally go back to read the levity, the wisdom, and more that they offered others, even at their most difficult period in their lives.

That inner strength is something that I personally can only aspire to, and on the bad days (more often than I care to reveal), I re read some of it to remind myself of what true courage is, allowing me to buck up to the current challenges at hand. Their memory deserves it.

The other numbers also do not reflect the true history of activity on the boards. We routinely go back and "prune" the "wish you well" posts a few years after they are no longer relative, so if we had left them up there, the board (a decade after its inaugural debut) would have over 200,000 posts on it.

[quote=Brian Hill]Members pass away... their profile and posts still live on in the messages boards and threads containing their wisdom, strengths, fears, and pain are their legacy, left for others still today... I occasionally go back to read the levity, the wisdom, and more that they offered others, even at their most difficult period in their lives...

Their memory deserves it.
[/quote]

Thank you Brian, your heartfelt response brings tears to my eyes.

I think it is good to remember those who are no longer with us, but contributed so much.
I smile when I recall the posts of "PeteD".
He knew how to "Turn Adversity into Adventure".
Miss you Pete!

PeteD

I guess we all have those that we miss and had a connection with. Relates a little to when we joined and like you PeteD was one I will always remember as well as Stephanie, Minnie and Patty (Good1). All with the angels now.
There are some that I have shared PM's and emails with and sadly could not get any replies and have not seen their presense here again
Gabriele

Don't forget Bren and the irrepressable Petey D.I am a sad old fart i still have every E-Mail and Pm i got from them and a few others we can only remember,it always amazes me the people i used to get e-mails from who have just dropped off the planet though,i often wonder how they are.

One person I've wondered about so much is JAM (Amy from Arkansas) a caregiver who helped me so much on so many of my anxious days in caring for my son. She's the one that told me to put my "nurse from Hell hat on" and get my son to eat which I did and he did! I wanted so many times to send her an email but was afraid of getting bad news. Now, Brian's post gives me the assurance that she is still in Arkansas someplace and hopefully enjoying life and love with her family. And of course I remember Petey, with his charming wit, and the barbeque sauce recipe he sent me. Liz - I am so glad you brought this up so that we could remember all our friends from years gone by and I am especially happy that you are still with us. Your phenomenal caregiving capacity and compassion have helped so many of us get through that dark tunnel of cancer.

The last time Amy posted was to tell us that she had met someone and was very happy.Like you she was my staunchest supporter through the worst times with robin and the most wonderful friend.For myself i wasn't such a good friend because when i heard her news i was so shocked i didn't even wish her well.