This is why this forum is such a comfortable place to be these days. I feel that as time has passed the forum has "matured" so that everyone listens to others, absorbs the info and opinions and responds respectfully. At least that's my experience on the threads I participate in. I have to say that this wasn't always so, especially in those frenetic earlier days when there were quite spectacular clashes and personal spats.
I'm glad to be still here amongst all you tolerant interesting people. 
Hi, Janie. I always sense your loveliness through your messages. Reading your comments makes me want to share a little bit about my personal views.
After perusing many older threads these last few months, and getting bits of conversations that left a bitter taste in my mouth and from which I ran in the other direction, I am realizing that it was best for me to come to the forum when I did. I would not have been a good candidate for what transpired at times back then. I know it can simply be a question of looking the other way, still, it would have bothered me greatly. Some of those uncomfortable (for me) conversations arose re real life circumstances and others were about BBM. Even the bashing of one character (Jack & Ennis) over another does not sit well with me. I find it takes away from the power of the love story.
As anyone that reads my posts knows, for me, the experience of BBM has morphed into a deep love and fierce loyalty to Heath, and so even today, I stay away from any negativity surrounding him, his life, his demise… He is so much more than the sum of these parts. As is everyone. The feeling is quite strong and categorical. And the same applies to Jake (or any human being). I don’t have any desire to partake in any speculation, whatever it might be in the moment, about him, his life… He’s perfect the way he is. As we all are. Yeah, that’s pretty much my view on life now.
My barometer is my heart, and how it feels when “things” land there. Sure, I carry this great sensitivity and tenderness, and I’m okay with that. More than that, I am grateful for it. I’m a hopeless romantic, a lover of love, and I can’t help but look at life...the world from that perspective. Not through rose-colored glasses as was the case before, but through the eyes of love. I still see what transpires, the difference now is that I hold no lasting judgment and my priority is to remain true to myself and what I hold dear. And to find the courage to express what that is.
love,
Michelle
