I had the good fortune to meet all three of these fine people over the years.

Nathan Detroit met me at Seattle airport when I flew in for SEA DO 2 and was kind enough to take me to the W Seattle and stay with me for a little while. He had many great stories to tell of his travels. He said he was looking forward to meeting essxjay who I think he met for the first time at a luncheon at a seafood place. I'm sorry that was the only time I saw him.

One of the major reasons I wanted to go to the Montreal Do hosted by flyme2 and his wife Bridgette was to finally meet johna Again, another class act like Nathan Detroit. We finally got to talk and share some travel stories. He made plans to come to the Catman DO 3 that following year and we were going to go see a Broadway show or two. Unfortunately he left us. One of the best memories of any Flyertalk event I attended or hosted was at the Catman Do 3, when dgolds and AnnaS wanted the group to pause and remember johna and raeban in prayer.

Now raeban was a lady among ladies. Our meeting started out with her husband onefreeman telling her he invited this Internet friend to their wedding (I was going to be in San Diego at the time.) She said something like "Are you nuts?" But the minute Rae and I met she felt I was not another Internet crazy but possibly a good friend. We got to spend some good times together including Maui, San Diego, the second Catman Do and PremEx and I got to see her one last time.

All three of these giving, warm people are missed but not forgotten. They are not Flyertalkers. They are true friends.