One year ago today, I boarded a Continental flight at Newark for a short trip to visit family in Canada. It was a routine trip by every standard. My biggest concern on leaving Newark was whether my upgrade would clear for my flight back to Atlanta in a few days. Not in my wildest dreams did I think about what might transpire next.
My life changed significantly as a result of the events of the next 2 weeks. Those who desire the details of the circumstances are invited to email me privately as I would rather this thread stayed away from the politics. Suffice it to say that I never got to take my return flight as a result of the intervention of a US Government agency. I had to cancel all my scheduled business trips and meetings. I also had to shut down my apartment in Atlanta and sort out my affairs there from 1000 miles away. To this date, I have not returned to the alleged "land of the free".
The year that followed has taught me a lot of things about life. Most importantly, it has shown me who my true friends in this world are. Many of these true friends of mine are folks that I have met through Flyertalk but who have become important in my life outside the board as well. Sadly, like in all communities, there have been some Flyertalk members who have also spread malicious rumors and actively gossiped about me behind my back. Others have taken to sending me abusive emails and threats due to their misconceptions and misperceptions of my situation. Thankfully, the friends have outnumbered the troublemakers by a huge margin.
In July last year, a group of Flyertalk users planned a "
Do In Exile" for Toronto, my adopted home at the time. I was stunned at the response it received with both old friends and new making their way north to keep me company for the weekend. It truly touched me that an online community could become such an integral part of my life.
There are way too many people here to name individually, so please pardon me if I don't include you in this list. Everyone who has made it up to Toronto and met with me will always have a special place in my heart for that gesture alone. However, some folks deserve special mention.
I'd like to thank
jan_az,
ACVitale and
AnnaS for writing to the US Government to support my position when things first began to go downhill.
Catman,
stockmanjr,
SRQGuy and
Jacob were among the first Flyertalk members to meet with me in Toronto despite the many rumors floating around about me at the time.
SanDiego1K and
jan_az deserve thanks for being my sounding boards and reality checks throughout the last 12 months.
markbach,
avek00,
UAX@SFO and
N866DA have been my co-conspirators, partners in crime and dear friends both on and off the forums.
A very special thank-you must go out to
flyerwife who has truly been my biggest supporter during this past year, despite her living in New York while I was exiled elsewhere. Her encouragement and support have been absolutely invaluable as I worked to get my life back in order and stay sane at the same time. I can honestly say that things today would have been very different had it not been for her.
Today, my life is back to as close to normal as is possible under the circumstances. The support of the Flyertalk Community as a whole has been invaluable during this past year and for that I am eternally grateful. Thank you Flyertalk Community.
[This message has been edited by B747-437B (edited 04-13-2003).]