Posted on 11/11/2018 3:55:04 AM PST by Chickensoup
This is the 20th anniversary of my years at FreeRepublic. I joined on November 9, 1998. I found a home here and have enjoyed my almost daily visits. Some of the most fascinating people have passed through the FR portal and the beautiful format allowed for sustained conversation and deep education of this fledgling conservative.
FR also has provided much support and guidance through the talents and knowledge and kindnesses of its members. Tied down with four children to support, homeschool, and raise, singlehandedly, I was never able to make any of the events and was sad not to attend the First Freeper Ball, although I did attend online.
Unlike some of you here I have never made close friends on the board, but I have certainly found compatriots in the walk of daily life in the political sphere.
If you notice a discrepancy in the anniversary date, I originally joined as mlmr, but had to change the handle when my marriage went south.
There are many wonderful and thoughtful people here and I am lucky to have you all. FreeRepublic encouraged me to find my own limited success on the internet at my own website column that was published in a few papers across the country.
At FR I have gotten to rub shoulders with many of my betters.
Jim you have been kind to this Freeper. Thank you.
I have often enjoyed the humor here at FR. It reminds me of the adults of my childhood, who used wryness, wit and cleverness in their conversations and stories. Growing up in our home a valued accomplishment was to be a good entertaining conversationalist.
A favorite late night classic thread:
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Thank you all and keep it bttt!
Congrats on your FReeper-versary. Here’s to many more.
I did not think of it until I saw this thread... I crossed the 20 year mark on October 23rd...
I guess I will have to send FR another anniversary present...
I believe I came here because of Drudge. FR still good, Drudge not so much...
Happy Anniversary.
Hey, my brother from another mother! How are you? I’m still working on getting my right hand working properly again after two titanium plates and 12 screws putting my wrist back together .... (sigh)
Congratulations chicken soup! I joined, I think in 2000, and this board has been a real light for me. I’ve learned I’ve laughed. And I’ll never forget on 9/11, that one thread, everyone knew immediately it was Al Qaeda. Here’s to many more anniversaries! Take care and all the best, Julie
By the way I’m sorry about your marriage. I’m kind of going through the same thing right now. It’s pretty tough. And very sad.
Dear Dear Chickensoup! Congratulations. Man of us have had so many life changes and still kept FreeRepublic as a stable community in our lives. Best wishes for the future.
Nice post! Too often, people let loose online and say things to other people that they would never say in person.
Might be time for a class reunion. I found FR just roaming the net for anything Constitutional and Conservative. There were not a lot of options twenty years ago.
PS, back in the day one used to be able to access a number that indicated where you were on the membership roster. I’d have to have a computer with a 3.5” disk drive to look that up, unless someone is aware of it still being accessible.
Happy Anniversary! Freerepublic is definitely a wonderful and special place.
Well Done NEWBIE...you’re right, this too has been one of the best ‘stops’ I’ve ever made on my computer.
Congrats mlmr/Chickensoup! I remember your original screen name. Nice to see all these ‘old’ screen names from 1998! I too am a 20 year FReeper from April 1998, also with a slight discrepancy on my NewLand anniversary date - it shows Feb 1999 - when I changed my original screen name, because someone else had a very similar name as my original and they were very disruptive!
I ‘retired’ from FR 7+ years ago. There are lots of great memories here, and I’ve been nostalgic about that lately, thus I’m here lurking.
A few personal favorite moments - I was in China during the 2000 election debacle - and was able to get onto FR to find out what was really happening. Many sites were blocked.
I was online during the big expose of Dan Rather and the fake memo by buckhead and KC Tanker and that was exciting!
In 2005 I was a caller on the Rush Limbaugh show, identified myself as a FReeper, and was honored with a thread about it by Clint N. Suhks and also by many on the ‘Rush Live’ thread.
Eagles up to all of you who were here in the last century and continue to FReep with honor!
It was a tough time, but the kids are now up and out, all productive citizens and life looks very positive. Life didnt turn out the way I expected, but in its way it is very good.
Thank you!
for you Jim
How kind of you to say that.
Discovered FR on 911 and joined shortly after - congrats - 20 years is a sizeable chunk of time.
the 9/11 thread was one for the record books.
I used to love coming to fr when there was an event ie plane crash and read the opinions of many knowlegdble experts in their fields discussing it.
Hi there, havent seen you in a while, nice to see the old names.
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