I started musing about BB and the people I've become close with.
I posted hesitatingly at first, about the shock of the film and the effect it had on me. I was numb. Hopefully, the astonishment felt when I got ANSWERED will never be forgotten. I was freaked out, completely.
Jack/Jack and I'mEnnisShe'sJack/Heidi and jim..../Jim actually ANSWERED my post.
I didn't quite know what to do. Should I ignore it? Use caution? Or---god help me roflmao>>>ANSWER BACK?
I answered back.
Very soon, I asked about BBM the short story and four people sent me copies. That opened a new world, The World Of Proulx.
I made friends. Ok, I figured it's the internet, it doesn't matter much.
THEN I found myself using PM's. They were an interesting experience lol. In every case, it was through a pm that friendships began.
Sometimes a PM from nowhere.
The person who is my oldest Forum friend, the one who first crossed the boundary into reality is The Scandalous Tellyouwhat. I had read tellyouwhat's posts and liked them. Got curious, started to follow her posts and finally sent a PM saying I loved what was written, liked the style, liked the grace, and only someone with a first class mind could have combined all that with the content.
It was rather daring on my part. For real. I didn't even know tellyouwhat was a SHE until she told me the little symbol by her avatar--and I wasn't sure what that was--meant people were male or female. We both started posting on the same thread, PM'd frequently. Then we exchanged phone numbers.
And USED THEM!!!
Started talking.
By then, the Brokeback Effect had led me to re-establish a friendship with my ex. By then it had led to asking my now wife if she might want to try.... By then it had led me into a renewed passion for my home town, NYC: 1/2 an hour from Times Square by subway, and I had not gone to the City for anything but Christmas sales for at least 3 years. Where I made a new friendship, with a non-forum Brokie who had seen the film, moved to the Rockies, been attacked with a tire iron and had to move back. By then it had instigated a move on my part to Colorado, a move made with intent to marry...
Now, I had met a few Forum members briefly---at a 'virgin' Forum screening in Manhattan, one which had odd vibes; at a second Forum screening on 42nd street where I met a Famous Italian Sausage who Chucked me. [lol] In Denver, where we had lunch with Cactusgal. But nothing like what Ellen suggested below.
One day Ellen called and said she had placed a notice in TDS--which she was co-editing by then--about an event up in Casper, Wyoming. Both wanted to go and both of us were very hesitant. We prodded each other and actually went. It was a remarkable weekend and a remarkable cast: Ellen, me, my now wife; Annie Proulx's Rancher Friends, given seats at our banquet dinner table; Linda Hasselstrom; Annie Proulx; Pete Tannen's I love Jack and Ennis Cowboy-Boot Slipcovers; Ennis's Truck; and half of what became The Denver Crew.
It was there where I really 'met' forum people and have never regretted it.
If someone interests you, if their posts intrigue you, send a PM. You may well find yourself new friends, ones you really love.
Ellen, canstandit, frontranger, lauragigs, johnbeene, WLAguy, EDelMar--they were at my wedding, some flew long distances, some drove. I treasure all of them: it all started with a PM.
Even the BBQ at Estes Park.
Use PM's. You won't regret it. All you need are 5 posts and the system is open to you.
